Are Snoring And Sleep Apnea Related?

Whether we want to admit it or not, nearly half of us - about 45% - snore sometimes, and about one in four snore almost every time we sleep.

Snoring can be bothersome to your partner, but for some people, snoring can be a serious health concern. Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a common medical condition that causes people to stop breathing when they sleep.

Is the sound of snoring disrupting sleep in your household? Find out causes and treatment options for this common problem. Learn about common causes of snoring, the link between snoring and sleep apnea, and treatments for snoring.

What Causes Snoring?

Common causes of snoring include:

• Later stages of pregnancy
• Irregularly shaped bones in the face
• Swelling of the tonsils and adenoids
• Smoking or alcohol consumption
• Antihistamine or sleeping pill use
• Sinus or nasal congestion
• Large base of the tongue or unusually large tongue and small mouth
• Congestion from allergies or a cold
• Overweight
• Swollen areas inside the mouth (including the uvula and soft palate)

Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a common medical condition that causes people to stop breathing for at least 10 seconds to up to a minute or longer, multiple times a night. Sleep apnea is estimated to affect as much as 20 percent of the population, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

But you can snore without having sleep apnea. When it's not a symptom of sleep apnea, snoring may not pose any physical risk in itself.

"Some people have primary snoring, which is when they have a deviated septum or their anatomy is poor, but that doesn't mean they collapse their airway or their airway stops," says Tapan Desai, MD, a pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist with Franciscan Physician Network Munster Medical Center.

Does Snoring Mean I Have Sleep Apnea?

While people living with sleep apnea typically snore, just because you or your partner snores does not always mean you have sleep apnea. This condition is defined as a sleep disorder where breathing constantly stops and starts.

"Snoring is not an indicator of sleep apnea. Snoring is just vibration of air flow," Dr. Desai said. "People think, 'I got sleep apnea when I snore.' That's not necessarily true.

"You can have sleep apnea without snoring or you could have snoring without sleep apnea. They're independent."

When Should I Be Concerned About Sleep Apnea and Snoring?

"There are four indicators, high blood pressure, the presence of snoring, witnessed apneic episodes, and a neck size greater than 17," Dr. Desai said. "If you have two of those, that's a high predictor for having sleep apnea."

Snoring accompanied by breathing stoppages, gasping or choking in your sleep can be an indicator of possible sleep apnea and should be discussed with your doctor.

How Can I Help My Snoring?

Your provider may suggest that you make some lifestyle changes as a start. Lifestyle changes that can help your snoring include:

• Weight loss
• Nasal congestion treatments
• Consistent sleep schedules
• Avoid lying on your back
• Avoid alcohol before bed

Is There A Treatment For Snoring?

Aside from lifestyle changes, there are also devices, services and procedures to treat your snoring. Even though snoring may not pose any physical risks, treatments are available for those troublesome nighttime airway noises. such as:

• Sleep study or polysomnography: tests designed to diagnose sleep disorders by recording brain waves, heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen and movement throughout your legs and eyes while you sleep.
• Oral appliances: adjusts areas of your mouth, including your tongue, jaw and soft palate to maintain an opening in your air passage.
• CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure: a mask designed to hold open your airways with pressurized air through a mask.
• Upper airway surgeries: multiple surgery options that keep the upper airway open while you sleep.

With a discussion on sleep apnea with your provider and several options to treat snoring, you can return to comfortable and confident sleeping patterns.