Snoring can be a very annoying habit, especially for your significant other. However, few people understand that chronic snoring may be an indicator of a serious health issue known as obstructive sleep apnea. Understanding OSA and how snoring is connected to this disorder can allow you to take steps necessary to rest better and avoid more serious health complications.
Try Our Sleep Apnea Quiz
- True or False: Snoring is a common warning sign of sleep apnea.
- True or False: OSA occurs when you stop breathing for brief periods.
- True or False: Serious complications can develop.
- True or False: We can help treat OSA with an oral appliance.
Answers
- True. Along with chronic snoring, you should be aware of changes during the day, such as moodiness, trouble concentrating on tasks, or exhaustion. At night, you may also notice periods of waking up gasping for air or choking. These could be possible warning signs of sleep apnea.
- True. Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the mouth and throat become overly relaxed and collapse. Partial obstruction causes patients to snore, while complete obstruction causes OSA, in which patients stop breathing until the brain registers a lack of oxygen and wakes the person to breathe again. The patient may have no memory of being woken up, even though it may happen hundreds of times in a single night.
- True. Without treatment OSA can lead to a higher risk of high blood pressure, which in turn can make the chances of heart attack and stroke increase.
- True. An oral appliance is worn at night and is very similar to a night guard. The device actually moves the jaw forward to prevent soft tissue collapse and allow uninterrupted breathing.
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