Are you snoring loudly? – You may have Apnea
Are you snoring loudly? – Of course, you wouldn’t know unless your husband or your wife tells you so. But did you know that snoring is a sign that you may have obstructive sleep apnea? As not to alarm you, let’s tackle snoring and apnea a bit more in detail.
What Causes Snoring?
We can define snoring as something that makes your husband or wife laugh during the first years of marriage, and becomes irritable as time goes by.
We can define snoring as the hoarse or harsh sound that happens when your breathing is obstructed in some way while you’re sleeping. The irregular airflow is caused by a passageway blockage due to throat weakness, a tensioned jaw, fat deposits in and around the throat, blocked nasal passageway, tissues touching each other that causes vibrations, throat relaxants such as alcohol or drugs and the tongue dropping to the back of the mouth.
Snoring Statistics
Statistics show that:
- 30% of adults snore
- On one survey conducted on 5,713 Italian residents, 24% men and 13.8% of women were identified to be habitual snorers. 60% of men and 40% of women were aged 60 to 65 years of age.
- On another survey published in the British Medical Journal in 1997, 3% of those over age 30 snore.
- Two-thirds of partnered adults say their partner snores, while 6 out of 10 of all adults say they snore. (National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 poll)
- 5.6% of children are habitual snorers. (Pediatrics Nov, 2001)
Snoring Symptoms
Aside from the noise caused by vibrations, you may also experience excessive sleepiness during the day, difficulty concentrating, sore throat, restless sleep, choking, high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats. As you cannot notice that you are snoring too loud (of course, you’re sleeping) then ask your partner if your snoring is disrupting his/her sleep already, or if at any time during your sleep, you happen to have been gasping or choking; these are signs that you may have a more serious condition – sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea means “cessation of breath.” It is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops and starts. You may have this sleep disorder if you happen to be snoring loudly or feel tired even after getting a full night’s sleep.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea – happens when the throat muscles relax
- Central sleep apnea – occurs when the brain doesn’t send proper signals to your muscles that control your breathing
Apnea Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of the two types of apneas usually overlap, making it hard to determine which type of sleep apnea you have.
Obstructive and Central sleep apnea symptoms:
- Excessive sleepiness during the day
- Loud snoring
- Breathing cessation during sleep (more prominent in Obstructive sleep apnea)
- Abrupt awakenings with shortness of breath (more prominent in Central sleep apnea)
- Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Headaches during the morning
- Insomia
Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
Sleep apnea may occur whether you’re young or old, male or female. However, there are factors that put people in greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Here are some of them:
Obstructive sleep apnea:
- Excess weight
- Having a think neck
- High blood pressure
- Narrowed airway
- Being male
- Women are in more risk of developing sleep apnea after menopause
- Age
- Family history
- Alcohol and drugs
- Smoking
- Prolonged sitting during the day
Central sleep apnea:
- Being male
- Age
- Heart disorders
- Stroke or brain tumor
Sleep Apnea Complications
Sleep apnea is considered to be a serious medical condition. Complications may include Cardiovascular problems because of sudden drops in oxygen levels during sleep apnea, daytime fatigue, complications with medications specially during after a major surgery, and of course, the unhappy wife or husband. People who have sleep apnea may also experience or suffer from memory problems, morning headaches, depression, nocturia and impotence.
Simple Apnea Test: Try to Reduce the Snoring First
Try to breathe right through a nose band which can be bought from your local drugstore. These are used by athletes and can be helpful in reducing you or your partners snoring. Also try not to stress yourself too much. Eat right. And finally, relax the face and tongue muscles with exercise.
If the snoring persists, you or your partner may have sleep apnea and you should consult your physician immediately so you can undergo Nocturnal polysomnography.
