Snoring is the most common form of sleep disorder that people have to deal with in their lifetime. It's never taken seriously since everyone in society suffers from it. The nature of snoring itself is not dangerous; however, when it's accompanied by such symptoms as excess daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration, or headaches, then it must be wrong, and probably because of sleep apnea: the condition in which breathing stops for periods during sleep, bringing a complete list of health problems, from heart disease to stroke.
This article aims to demystify the association between snoring and sleep apnea, highlighting warning signs and potential treatments. By understanding this relationship, you can take proactive steps to address this potentially life-threatening disorder.
Before we discuss how snoring relates to sleep apnea, let's first clarify what sleep apnea is. It is a disorder that basically involves pauses in breathing during sleep. These events can last from a few seconds to more than a minute and occur hundreds in one night. Most of these events lead to low oxygen that breaks the pattern of sleep, thereby forcing the body not to proceed to the recovery stages of sleeping.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the throat muscles relax at night and eventually block the airway during sleep.
The central type happens when the brain fails to send signals to the respiratory muscles at the right time.
The complex type is a mixture of obstructive and central sleep apnea types.
Snoring is one of the common presentations whereby patients with sleep apnea usually present even though the severity and presentations of sleep apnea may vary.
Snoring is the sound that occurs as the flow of air past loose tissue in your throat. This happens at all stages of sleep except most occurring at deep stages. In such a stage, the level of muscle relaxation reaches its peak. Some factors that can be considered to cause snoring are:
Congestion or nasal blockage: It clogs the nostrils, and breathing is labored. Many people have no choice but to breathe through the mouth.
Snoring is unsafe unless chronic unless it is loud, especially with other symptoms, including gapping during sleep or pausing respiration in the middle of sleep. Association of Snore with
Snoring and sleep apnea can be the same but not quite the same. In fact, snoring is actually one of the most common presentations of OSA; however, everybody who snores doesn't necessarily have sleep apnea and not everybody who has sleep apnea snores.
Here's how they associate with each other:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring: Snoring in OSA often happens when the upper airway begins to constrict partly. The further into the night, the looser his snores tend to get, so his airway narrows some in this part since this is where all the vibrating creates the characteristic noise that is known as snoring. When this entire block seals within the airway, then again, the patient no longer breathes, leaving him with the idea of taking an almost imperceptible break through the process.
Gasping or Choking: Patients with sleep apnea are highly susceptible to snoring but are often bothered by gasps or choking as the airway completely collapses in an anatomical configuration that temporarily arrests the process of respiration.
Then, there would be a minute lag before gasping resumes again on account of the return of air to the respiratory system; it is usually accompanied by very loud snoring or snorting noises while the airway opens.
Sleep Disturbance: Because of the patterns of interruption and resumption of breathing, sleep apnea patients also suffer from disturbed sleep; often, there is grogginess during the day, trouble concentrating, and other manifestations of sleep disturbance. Typically, snoring without apnea does not cause these pauses.
How do I know if my snoring comes from sleep apnea? Although one of the signs of sleep apnea is often snoring, there are other essential warning signs and symptoms to look out for:
This also comprises persistent tiredness or sleepiness during the day, even after a full night's sleep. Sleep fragmentation caused by sleep apnea prevents the body from undergoing those deep restorative stages of sleep.
Most people who suffer from sleep apnea wake up with headaches. They probably did not have oxygen last night. Low-quality sleep sometimes leads to drowsiness as well.
Even though snoring does not cause damage at the moment, it still causes a lot to your health and quality of life. Chronic snoring is always associated with sleep disorders, and poor sleep quality can result in:
If you or your spouse is concerned about snoring, especially when symptoms appear to represent sleep apnea, the best initial action is to visit a healthcare professional. For the most part, this means beginning with a sleep study, also sometimes known as polysomnography, which will diagnose the presence of sleep apnea. Usually, the studies on sleep are conducted either at a sleep clinic or at the person's home under test, using various devices that measure the breathing rate, heart-beating rate, and oxygen levels during sleep.
The most common treatments include:
Snoring has been taken many times to be a harmless, common nuisance, but at times, it turns out to be a warning for much graver circumstances than what this one is: sleep apnea. Snoring is often accompanied by gasping, choking, or severe somnolence during the day; visit a doctor to meet the physician. Early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea would also significantly improve the health condition, decrease risks of severe complications, and improve the quality of life.
If you or your partner ever experience snoring or sleep apnea, do not wait. Any doctor can help you reach the root of the matter and start taking steps toward better sleep.
