What You Need to Know About Snoring and Sleep Apnea
July 1, 2024By: Jodi Rawson
Categories: Your Wellness
Snoring is a loud, hoarse and harsh breathing sound that happens as you sleep — and it’s normal for all of us to do it from time to time. But when snoring often interferes with you (or your partner) getting a good night’s rest, it may be time to talk with your doctor.
What is Sleep Apnea?
You may have obstructive sleep apnea if you partially or completely stop breathing for more than 10 seconds at a time during sleep. And heavy snoring, snorting or gasping for air are often the first signs, which happen when the muscles in the back of your throat fail to keep your airway open, despite your efforts to breathe.
Apnea disease, which affects up to 9% of the population, according to the National Sleep Foundation, can cause sleep disturbances and low blood oxygen levels. And many medical problems can result from obstructive sleep apnea, including high blood pressure, heart disease, mood swings, depression, daytime drowsiness and memory loss.
Although it occurs mostly in men or people who are overweight, obstructive sleep apnea tends to worsen with age. In addition to snoring, other sleep apnea symptoms include tossing and turning during sleep, feeling tired during the day and waking up with a headache — all of which can be signs you didn’t sleep well.
What Causes Snoring and Sleep Apnea?
You snore when the flow of air through your mouth and nose is physically obstructed — and there are several potential causes, including:
- Bulky throat tissue. Being overweight can cause adults to have bulky throat tissue. Furthermore, children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore.
- Clogged nasal airways. Seasonal allergies or acute sinus infections can obstruct the nasal airway. Nose polyps and deformities of the nose, such as a deviated septum (a structural change in the wall that separates one nostril from the other) can also cause blocked airways.
- Long soft palate and uvula. A long soft palate or uvula (the dangling tissue in the back of the mouth) can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat. When these structures vibrate and bump against one another, the airway becomes obstructed, causing snoring.
- Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue. Your throat and tongue muscles can become too relaxed, allowing them to collapse and fall back into your airway. This can happen as part of the natural aging process or can result from deep sleep, alcohol consumption and use of sleeping pills.
- Pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause the buildup of fluids in your nasal passages, leading to congestion, restricted breathing and snoring.
Children Who Snore
In adults, occasional snoring isn’t usually serious. But if your child snores, you should consult a pediatrician to learn the cause. Children with sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea sometimes experience growth problems, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), poor school performance, learning difficulties, bedwetting and high blood pressure.
Getting Enough Rest
Optimizing your sleep is important, and there are many simple steps you can take to get better rest. If you want to reduce your snoring — or encourage it for your partner — losing weight and avoiding alcohol close to bedtime are good ways to start.
But when these methods aren’t helping you or your loved one rest as you should, a sleep study can help your care team pinpoint your sleep issues and chart the best course of treatment, including determining if continuous positive airway pressure (a CPAP machine) is right for you.
A doctor’s referral is required for a sleep study, which is the only way to diagnose sleep apnea. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider if you have symptoms of sleep apnea to determine if a sleep study is recommended.
