Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Snoring is a sound that occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat while you’re sleeping, causing a vibration when you breathe. More than 90 million Americans experience snoring during their nighttime sleep and this can cause significant tension between you and your sleep partner. In fact, many snorers don’t even realize how loudly they’re snoring until they’re awakened by an aggravated sleep mate.
Snoring is a major symptom of sleep apnea, but millions of people who snore loudly don’t suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing that occurs several times each night due to tissue that’s blocking the airway. If your snoring is accompanied by daytime drowsiness, morning headaches, or frequent pauses in breathing, or if you commonly wake up with a dry mouth or sore throat, you could be suffering from sleep apnea.
Risk Factors for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
There are several factors that may contribute to both snoring and sleep apnea, including:
- Age, weight, gender
- Nasal congestion or a deviated septum
- Allergies
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
- Sleep position
Relief for You and the People Close to You
Getting the right professional treatment for your snoring will allow both you and your sleep partner to enjoy healthy, restful sleep every night. This can be crucial for your own wellbeing and also the health and happiness of those around you.
Spouses and sleep partners of heavy snorers often suffer from serious sleep deprivation, which can lead to a number of significant health issues, such as:
- Weight gain
- Greater risk for diabetes, strokes, and heart attacks
- Daytime moodiness and irritability
- Automobile accidents
- Reduced sex drive
- Memory loss and reduced intellectual function
Getting effective treatment for your sleep apnea could turn out to be the best thing you do for your relationship.
Common Questions from Our Patients
Does anyone who has a loud, disruptive snore suffer from sleep apnea?
No. Snoring is a sound caused by the vibration made when air passes through tissue. Sleep apnea snores are generally caused by an obstruction in the airway. So, although snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, millions of people who snore loudly don’t always suffer from sleep apnea.
Can Dr. Greenman still help relieve my snoring, even if it’s not sleep apnea?
Yes, we offer custom-made oral appliances and recommend various methods that can help alleviate your snoring.
My partner thinks I have sleep apnea because of my snoring, but what are some other symptoms?
Other common signs of sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime drowsiness and fatigue
- Abrupt awakenings
- Shortness of breath
- Morning headaches
- Irritability
Treatment for Snoring That Really Works
If you’re a moderate to heavy snorer, you could be suffering from sleep apnea. To find out for sure, Dr. Greenman can arrange for you to get a sleep study. Your sleep study can be conducted either at a sleep center or in the privacy of your own home using a portable device.
Once we’ve ruled out sleep apnea as the cause of your heavy snoring, we can focus on just treating your snoring. Dr. Greenman offers effective treatment for snoring, such as our small and convenient oral appliances.