Snoring And Sleep Apnea: Could There Be A Link?

Introduction

Sleep Apnea is a common sleep disorder caused when low levels of oxygen reach the brain during sleep. It hinders normal breathing patterns for about 10 seconds or longer during sleep and this is known as apnea. Due to this, your sleep will be interrupted several times as you will be compelled to briefly awaken to breathe better. Sometimes you may make a sound when your breathing is obstructed which is referred to as snoring. Snoring happens when the air flowing through the nose and airways causes the tissues to vibrate. Snoring can be occasional or regular with some people and can lead to serious health concerns as well. On other occasions, it can also be an indication of a serious underlying condition such as sleep apnea. Snoring not only hampers the sleep cycle and sleep quality but can also make the person feel irritated, anxious and exhausted.

The Common Signs And Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea Are As Follows:

• Feeling perpetually drowsy and tired during the daytime
• Lack of concentration and focus
• Underperformance in school or at work
• Morning headache
• Frequent nightmares
• Restless sleep
• Gasping or choking at night
• Dry mouth
• Snoring
• Breathing through the mouth

Apart from these symptoms, sleep apnea may even cause insomnia, mood swings, sexual dysfunction, or unnatural weight gain. It further puts a person at risk of stroke, high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetes. 

Types Of Sleep Disorders:

• In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, there are periods when breathing stops and the flow of oxygen is reduced in your body.
• Central Sleep Apnea is when your breathing is disrupted regularly during sleep.
• Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you find it difficult to fall or stay asleep and is oftentimes linked to depression or other medical conditions.

Why Do People Snore?

The throat tissues sometimes relax too much to partially block your airway and cause vibrations. This is why people snore and the narrower the airway, the louder the noise gets.

• The anatomy of your airways is a factor that may cause snoring. People who are overweight have extra tissues at the back of their throat while some have an elongated uvula due to which airflow can be blocked and vibration increases leading to snoring.
• Snoring can take place if a person smokes or consumes too much alcohol before bedtime. It reduces your natural reflexes and is also thought to be linked to increased inflammation of the upper airways.
• If a person suffers from chronic nasal congestion it may cause snoring.
• Sleep deprivation can again contribute to snoring.
• Your sleep position is another reason that can trigger snoring. You must always try to sleep on your side instead of your back as the airway gets narrower when you do so.
• The deviated nasal septum, where the wall or bridge of your nose is deviated and causes obstruction in airflow which leads to snoring.

Treatment

Treatment of Sleep Apnea and management of sleep disorder is based on the severity of your condition, duration, signs and causes. It largely depends on the patient’s overall lifestyle and health condition. Depending on the underlying cause, your doctor will suggest suitable treatment options. If you are ready to embrace certain lifestyle changes, such as undergoing a weight loss program and using a breathing assistance device, your condition may improve to a great extent.

Exercise

Physical exercise and weight loss can help treat sleep apnea. You must regularly perform aerobic activities and take care of your cardiovascular health. This reduces the risk of complications related to obesity and keeps you healthy.

Supportive Care: For Severe Cases

• The CPAP uses a mask to help relieve nighttime breathing problems. 
• Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is an airflow device that understands your normal breathing pattern and when you are asleep it uses pressure to prevent pauses in your breathing. This is used to treat complex sleep apnea but is not suggested for people who have central sleep apnea and advanced heart failure.
• Using supplemental oxygen during sleep might be helpful if you have central sleep apnea. 

Snoring, often with pauses, snorts or gasps between breaths, Heavy breathing while sleeping, Extremely restless sleep, Bedwetting are some of the common signs in children to diagnose sleep apnea, do note the condition manifests even in children and not just the adults.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Surgery

• Tracheostomy: This is a method by which a new air passageway is created through surgery when other treatments have failed and you are experiencing severe, life-threatening sleep apnea. An opening is made in your neck and a metal or plastic tube is inserted to help you breathe.
• Adenoid removal: Surgical removal of the adenoids.
• Jaw repositioning, tissue shrinkage, nerve stimulation are other procedures to treat sleep apnea.

Conclusion

While snoring may seem like a funny trivial issue, one should never ignore it. It might be the precursor to something more dangerous. Any kind of sleep disorder should be addressed and nipped in the bud by speaking to a doctor. It is not a good idea to rely on sleeping pills and home remedies to help solve the problem. A doctor will evaluate and diagnose your condition to suggest what’s best for you.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.