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Sleep Apnea Snoring Treatment
Do you or your loved one find yourself snoring? In the United States, up to 90 million Americans have reported snoring at some point, with around 37 million experiencing it regularly. Snoring can sometimes serve as an indicator of potential sleep apnea, a grave sleep disorder linked to health issues. Wondering about the link between snoring and sleep apnea? Reach out to us for answers today!
Snoring and Sleep Apnea: What’s the Connection?
Snoring is often a symptom of sleep apnea, in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep. Sleep apnea may occur when your throat muscles relax and block your airway (obstructive sleep apnea) when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing (central sleep apnea), or because of both of the aforementioned reasons.
So, does sleep apnea cause snoring? In short, yes. Sleep apnea is the most common cause of snoring. When a person has sleep apnea, their throat muscles relax, and the soft tissue in the back of their throat collapses. This collapse narrows the airway and makes it difficult for air to flow through. As a result, the person snores.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. In fact, most people who snore do not have sleep apnea. However, if you snore regularly and loudly, you should see a doctor to rule out sleep apnea.
Other Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:
It’s important to know that snoring is not the only symptom of sleep apnea. In fact, many people who have sleep apnea don’t even realize it because they don’t snore. Here are some other symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Waking up feeling tired: If you have sleep apnea, you may not get enough deep sleep. This can leave you feeling tired during the day, even if you’ve slept for eight hours.
- Headaches: If you have sleep apnea, you may wake up with headaches. This is because your body is not getting enough oxygen at night.
- Dry mouth: If you have sleep apnea, you may wake up with a dry mouth. This is because your mouth and throat muscles are relaxed, and your saliva isn’t flowing properly.
- Feeling irritable: If you have sleep apnea, you may feel irritable during the day. This is because sleep deprivation can lead to mood swings.
- Difficulty concentrating: If you have sleep apnea, you may have difficulty concentrating during the day. This is because your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen at night.
If you suspect the presence of sleep apnea, don’t delay – schedule an appointment today. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition that, when left untreated, could contribute to a range of health issues, including heart disease, strokes, and high blood pressure. If you often snore or encounter other sleep apnea symptoms, our team can guide you through an effortless home sleep test. This test will assist in determining whether sleep apnea is a potential concern for you.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea, accounting for an estimated 84% of all cases. OSA occurs when the throat muscles relax, and the airway becomes blocked, preventing air from reaching the lungs. This can happen several times throughout the night and lead to loud snoring, gasping, or choking sounds.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is less common than OSA but still affects an estimated 2% of the population. CSA occurs when the brain fails to signal to the muscles that control breathing. As a result, breathing can become shallow or even stop altogether for short periods. People with CSA often snore loudly and may experience morning headaches.
Mixed Sleep Apnea (MSA)
Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of OSA and CSA. This type of sleep apnea is relatively rare, affecting an estimated 4% of people with sleep apnea. Mixed sleep apnea can have both obstructive and central components, making it more difficult to treat than OSA or CSA alone.
How to Treat and Manage Sleep Apnea Snoring and Sleep Apnea?
Oral appliance therapy stands as a highly effective remedy for both sleep apnea and snoring. Our team excels in the use of the groundbreaking FDA Cleared Vivos Dental Device, a pivotal player in this field. Typically recommended for individuals grappling with mild to moderate sleep apnea, this oral appliance therapy often takes the lead in addressing snoring concerns as well. If signs and symptoms point towards sleep apnea snoring, we encourage you to consult with our dedicated professionals today to initiate your journey toward relief.
Sleep Apnea Snoring FAQs
Most people who snore don’t have sleep apnea, but many people with sleep apnea snore. So, if you snore, it’s worth considering the possibility that you have sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, you may also gasp or choke during sleep, pause breathing during sleep, or wake up feeling short of breath.
Although snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, not everyone who has sleep apnea snoring. If you have sleep apnea, you may experience other symptoms such as daytime fatigue, waking up with a headache, or trouble concentrating during the day.
The best way to confirm the effectiveness of the oral appliance for sleep apnea is to have a sleep study done. This will show how well the appliance is working and if any other issues need to be addressed.
There are many different types of insurance available, and each type of insurance has different levels of coverage. Some insurance companies may cover sleep apnea treatment, while others may not. Please ask your doctor to perform an insurance verification to determine if your insurance provider covers sleep apnea treatment.
Contact Your Snoring and Sleep Apnea Doctor Today
Sleep Apnea Treatment is a group of state-of-the-art dental clinics specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. We also provide home sleep tests that allow you to undergo a sleep study from the comfort of your home. If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, our dentists will curate a personalized treatment plan to help you sleep comfortably. Please schedule a consultation with our specialists for sleep apnea in Houston.
