Sleep Apnea Snoring Treatment
Do you snore? If you do, you’re not alone. In the United States, an estimated 37 million adults snore. Sleep apnea snoring is caused by a variety of things, including age, weight, alcohol consumption, and sleep position. It can also signify sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder that can lead to health problems. So, what’s the connection between snoring and sleep apnea? Let’s take a closer look.
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 you have sleep apnea, it’s important to see a specialist. Sleep apnea can be a serious condition that can lead to numerous health problems if it’s not treated, such as heart disease, strokes, and high blood pressure. If you snore frequently or experience other sleep apnea symptoms, please order a home sleep test to determine if you may have sleep apnea.
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 is one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea snoring. This involves wearing a custom-fit mouthguard-like device during sleep to keep the airway open and prevent snoring. Oral appliance therapy is usually recommended for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea, and it’s usually the first line of treatment for people with snoring issues. If you have the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea snoring and sleep apnea, please consult a sleep apnea specialist and order a home sleep study, based on which the specialist will curate a treatment plan.
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 a Specialist for Sleep Apnea Snoring
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.
