Snoring and sleep apnea are deeply connected, as loud snoring is often pegged as one of the most significant signs of obstructive sleep apnea. However, not all snoring indicates sleep apnea, and the best way to find out if you have sleep apnea is by participating in a sleep study administered by a qualified doctor.
An Overview of Snoring
Snoring, while annoying for those awake, can be relatively harmless. It results from tissues in the throat vibrating when airflow is obstructed during sleep. It requires deeper examination to determine the source, which can range from harmless to a more serious problem requiring a doctor’s intervention.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea: What You Need to Know
Sleep apnea is serious. It describes a condition in which those airways become so narrowed that air fails to reach the lungs, and breathing stops. The brain’s automatic alert system immediately, albeit briefly, wakes you up so you can reopen your airway (with a loud gasp or snort) before returning to sleep. This next-level snoring not only results in a loud nuisance for others but also increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. As if that weren’t enough, even for those who don’t remember their multiple bouts of stopping and starting sleep, snoring and sleep apnea often lead to excessive daytime sleepiness and morning headaches.
The Importance of Sleep
The value of getting a good night’s sleep cannot be overstated. Like water and exercise, sleep is vital for optimizing our physical, mental, and emotional health, from cognitive processes like learning, decision-making, and memory storage to emotional regulation and mental health considerations like stress, anxiety, and physical health like hormone regulation and tissue repair. The disruptive nature of snoring and sleep apnea makes evaluation a necessity for overall health and wellness.
How to Treat Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Step one is to confirm the cause of snoring and determine if sleep apnea is involved. Once diagnosed, your ENT can explore multiple treatment options, from lifestyle changes to CPAP machines, oral appliances, and, in severe cases, surgery as needed.
Are You Ready to Get a Good Night’s Sleep?
Discover how to get your body the sleep it needs and deserves by visiting Del Rey MD, in Marina Del Rey, CA. Call 310-823-4444 or contact us here to schedule an appointment to get started.