Signs That Your Snoring Might Be Sleep Apnea And What To Do Next
We all know someone whose deep snores shake the walls and rattle everyone in the house out of their slumber, leaving you confused about how the human body could even create such a noise.
But snoring is not just an odd quirk that sometimes wakes up even the heaviest of sleepers. It could be a sign that the snoring culprit could be battling something more serious, like sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start, according to Dr. Cinthya Pena Orbea, a doctor of sleep medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. She says sleep apnea is caused when either the airway is physically blocked or when the brain isn’t controlling your breathing correctly.
“The choking or gasping sensations or air at night, this is how we can describe how sleep apnea is,” Orbea says.
Loud snoring could be just one sign of sleep apnea – and sometimes, those suffering from sleep apnea don’t even snore. Sleep apnea can be accompanied by other symptoms as well.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, those with sleep apnea may also wake up with a dry mouth or gasping, have headaches in the morning, or are sleepy, unable to concentrate or irritable during the day. They may also suffer from insomnia, according to the health organization.
Sleep disorders are prevalent in the Hispanic and Latino communities, meaning many Latinos across the country are not getting the healthy amount of seven to nine hours of sleep they need. According to the CDC, about 1 in 3 Latino adults sleeps less than seven hours.
Orbea urges patients not to normalize constant fatigue, snoring, and other symptoms of sleep apnea, adding that sleep apnea can cause or be caused by other serious health conditions.
There can be many causes for sleep apnea, including risk factors like obesity, a family history of sleep apnea, large tonsils, or heart conditions. For those with heart conditions, sleep apnea can make things worse. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it has been linked to high blood pressure, heart damage or failure, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death.
If you think you have sleep apnea, Orbea says it’s vital that you get tested. To help your doctor provide an accurate diagnosis, the Cleveland Clinic recommends taking video or audio recording of your sleep to help speed up the diagnosis. This can help show unusual breathing patterns and snoring that you may not be able to describe yourself. A sleep study typically follows.
Orbea says a polysomnogram – an overnight test that monitors your brain waves, breathing, blood oxygen levels, and more – or at-home sleep apnea testing can help offer more insight into your condition.
Treatment looks different for every patient.
“Like in every chronic condition, lifestyle modifications are advised, like reducing weight, avoiding alcohol, and avoiding smoking,” that address potential underlying causes, said Orbea. But there are medical interventions as well, she adds, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, oral mouthpieces or neuromuscular devices designed to keep your airway open.
If this all sounds like something you’re experiencing, check with your doctor to learn more about what might be best for you.
