Not all snorers have apnea, but the two often go hand-in-hand. As snoring gets louder, chances of having sleep apnea are greater and greater. If you have apnea, your bed partner might notice that the snores are punctuated by pauses in breathing. Those are apnea episodes, and they can recur hundreds of times a night.
Snoring that's not caused by sleep apnea — called primary snoring — can be caused by a number of things, including: Older age, which can cause more relaxed throat muscles. Nose or throat conditions, such as a deviated septum (when the wall that divides the nose is pushed to one side) or enlarged tonsils.
Not all snorers have OSA, but if snoring is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it may be an indication to see a doctor for further evaluation for OSA: Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep. Excessive daytime sleepiness. Difficulty concentrating.
But loud, jarring snoring may indicate sleep apnea — a condition that causes you to pause breathing during sleep. If snoring occurs in combination with apneic episodes (gasping for air in your sleep) and other symptoms like fatigue or irritability, then you should talk to a healthcare provider.
“When it's loud, raucous snoring, or it's interrupted by pauses in breathing, that's where we start to get concerned.” It's estimated that at least 25 million American adults and 936 million adults between the ages of 30 and 69 worldwide may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, with many more people undiagnosed.
Why do people snore? Snoring is the sound of obstructed breathing, which can be caused by some basic factors, such as poor muscle tone, bulky throat tissue, or a long soft palate or uvula.
You're a Noisy Sleeper
Not all snorers have apnea, but the two often go hand-in-hand. As snoring gets louder, chances of having sleep apnea are greater and greater. If you have apnea, your bed partner might notice that the snores are punctuated by pauses in breathing.
Studies show that patients who develop sleep apnea before the age of fifty have a life expectancy between 8 and 18 years. Fortunately lifestyle changes, treatment, and other interventions can improve the life expectancy of someone with sleep apnea.
The difference is that, with obstructive sleep apnea, the snoring is accompanied by pauses where you literally stop breathing because your airway collapses or is blocked. These pauses, which can last from a few seconds to minutes, are followed by choking, snorting or gasping.
These may include devices such as a pulse oximeter or a Fitbit-style device which track your breathing and heart rate while you sleep. There are also apps available which can be used to measure snoring and assess potential risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea.
The first stage of sleep apnea is benign snoring. Benign snoring is often harmless, but it can be an indication that sleep apnea will develop in the future.
CPAP is rarely prescribed for snoring in people who do not have sleep apnea, but there are other options that can help these individuals reduce snoring. In many cases, these approaches can decrease snoring and the frustrations it can cause for a bed partner.
In some cases, sleep apnea can resolve if you return to a healthy weight, but it can recur if you regain the weight. Exercise. Regular exercise can help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk, most days of the week.
So, if you're a snorer, we suspect there's a 75% chance you have some degree of sleep apnea. A three-quarters risk of having a life-threatening condition definitely deserves to be checked out.
Several studies have shown an association between sleep apnea and problems like type 2 diabetes , strokes , heart attacks and even a shortened lifespan, says Jun.
People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night. If you have sleep apnea, periods of not breathing can disturb your sleep (even if they don't fully wake you up).
Severe sleep apnea shortens life expectancy, in the worse case by as much as 4 times. Individuals with severe sleep apnea from the study reported having strokes and even cancer before they died, proving how much severe sleep apnea can be very destructive to someone's health.
More than usual daytime sleepiness. Waking up with a dry throat or headache. Waking up often during the night. Difficulty concentrating or mood changes during the day.
Sleeping on Your Side. Side sleeping is better for reducing sleep apnea than back sleeping. Research shows that in many cases, sleeping on your side can significantly reduce breathing disruptions. View Source from both OSA and CSA.
Many snorers are also in denial about their snoring and may react with irritability to your requests to keep it quiet. But waking a snorer can be helpful in some cases. Gently nudging the snorer and telling them to switch to a side-sleeping position, for example, is often quite effective.
Causes of Snoring in Women. Certain risk factors for snoring, such as pregnancy and menopause. View Source , are unique to women and people assigned female at birth. Other common causes of snoring such as nasal congestion, hypothyroidism, obesity, and certain anatomical traits may occur in people of any sex or gender.