During sleep, the vibration of respiratory structures can result in obstructed air movement. The sound may be soft or loud, soothing or unpleasant. It’s most commonly known as snoring.
Likely derived from the word snort, the condition was first commonly discussed as the sound made by horses and then of people who “breathe in sleep with a rough, hoarse noise.”
Etymology aside, snoring is the subject of jokes. It sometimes imperils domestic partnerships. It can be of little consequence, or lead to serious medical issues and death.
According to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the prominent institution headquartered in Baltimore, about 45% of adults in the United States periodically snore. About 25% snore regularly.
Common snoring can be annoying and inconvenient, and while it occurs for many reasons, it happens more often in overweight middle-aged men and postmenopausal women. It’s also often the result of nasal congestion or the shape of the mouth and throat.
Snoring is problematic for the 4% or so of adults who have obstructive sleep apnea. It’s when a snorer stops breathing, and it can occur hundreds of times per night. Sleep apnea is linked to heart disease and other health problems, and it requires treatment.
W. Chris Winter, MD, a neurologist in Roanoke, Virginia, is the author of The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It.
“Although loud snores are a symptom of sleep apnea, a silent night doesn’t mean you don’t have it,” says Winter. “Just because you don’t snore does not mean you do not have sleep apnea. If you are tired and sleep poorly, insist on a sleep study, even if you don’t look like a typical sleep apnea patient.”
Snoring and sleep apnea are generally categorized into three main types: light, infrequent snoring; primary snoring, which happens more than three nights per week; and snoring related to obstructive sleep apnea.
Potential sleep apnea sufferers who don’t snore should consider a medical evaluation if other issues are common: dry mouth upon waking up, morning headaches, choking or gasping during sleep and frequently waking at night to urinate.
Dr. Gene Sambataro, a dentist in Ellicott, Maryland, and a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, is the author of Stop the Snore: Dental Solutions for Healthy Sleep. He explains that excessive snoring can lead to teeth grinding. “Sleep apnea sufferers may awake with sensitive teeth or tight jaw muscles. It happens because the breathing airway is obstructed.” The National Sleep Foundation found that about one in four people with obstructive sleep apnea grinds their teeth at night.
Sleep apnea sufferers also can develop chronic issues that not only affect sleep quality but can lead to overall health problems, such as high blood pressure. Snoring also can be problematic in relationships, with partners negatively affecting each other’s sleep quality.
Diagnosing sleep apnea has become more convenient. Medical office overnight sleep testing is the prevalent testing method, and it’s still often prescribed. However, many health care providers can diagnose sleep apnea using at-home testing by monitoring breathing and quality of sleep at night.
Several wearable products, including nasal strips, variously shaped mouthpieces and a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine, have helped snorers. Nasal strips, available over the counter and applied to the bridge of a snorer’s nose, can widen the airway and increase airflow. Wearing a mouthpiece tilts the lower jaw forward and moves throat tissues away from the airways. Custom-made mouthpieces are recommended for proper fit. A CPAP machine is often recommended for severe snorers or sleep apnea sufferers. The apparatus is a mask placed over the mouth and nose while sleeping that provides a continuous stream of air to keep airways open.
Surgery is required in the most severe cases—for example, if a snorer has a deviated septum, excess tissue or polyps or needs a jaw adjustment.
Many snoring problems can be resolved by common lifestyle modifications: changing your sleep position to adjust head elevation a few inches, eliminating alcohol before bedtime or quitting smoking. Maintaining a healthy weight and properly treating allergies also are beneficial for cutting down snoring, giving you—and everyone around—a better night’s sleep.
SNORING AND SLEEP APNEA EXPERTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Lung Sleep Institute
6376 Pine Ridge Road #440, Naples
lungsleepinstitute.com
239.315.7123
Pulmonary Consultants
1031 SE 9th Place #2, Cape Coral
floridasleepdoctors.com 239.574.2644
Sleep Center Naples
1865 Veterans Park Drive #301, Naples
sleepcenternaples.com
239.254.1233
Sleep Disorders Center of SW Florida
1865 Veterans Park Drive #301, Naples
healthgrades.com
239.254.1233
Sleep Naples
9180 Galleria Court #100, Naples
sleepnaples.com
239.593.0880
