Understand The Risks Of Snoring & Sleep Apnea

While snoring isn’t dangerous in itself, it’s a warning sign that something is off, and it’s often the first sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is because when you snore, it means your airway is partially blocked.

Snoring occurs when vibrations in the soft tissues of your throat vibrate as air passes through them, causing the sound we know as snoring. In sleep apnea, the throat closes enough that instead of simply vibrating, the airway closes entirely, in an event called an apnea. In serious cases, sleep apnea can be fatal – so if you do snore, it’s not something that should go unnoticed. Snoring is a sign of sleep apnea and means you should schedule an appointment with a sleep apnea doctor to determine if you are suffering from OSA. In addition to snoring, the disrupted breathing caused by sleep apnea can cause a number of other problems, including:

• Daytime tiredness and grogginess
• A drop in production at work
• Negative effects on personal relationships
• Higher risk for injuries to accidents caused by your sleepiness
• Higher risk of developing serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke or hypertension

The personal side effects of sleep apnea are serious, but snoring itself can also place a strain on relationships. Regular snoring not only increases tiredness but may also lead to frustration and resentment between couples. Snoring can interfere with emotional and sexual intimacy due to a lack of healthy sleep and a shortage of oxygen to the body through the night, and if the snoring has caused enough tension, it can lead to couples sleeping in separate bedrooms.

When sleep apnea is present, the problem can compound itself. People suffering from poor sleep can become irritable and short-tempered, which can inflame existing tensions and make the problem even harder to solve. This can lead to serious relationship problems as both partners may show less empathy toward each other.

Taking care of a snoring problem can lead to better sleep for both partners as well as a more loving relationship that involves sleeping together – not apart. If your relationship is suffering due to a snoring problem, a sleep apnea doctor can provide convenient, low-impact solutions that help you reclaim healthy sleep and a healthier relationship.

Snoring is one of the most common sleep problems in America. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that:

• 80% of couples where at least one partner snores sleep separately
• 60% of men and 40% of women snore habitually
• 90 million Americans have a snoring problem
• 45% of adults snore at least occasionally with 1 out of every 4 being habitual snorers

These numbers are shocking – but they’re also completely unnecessary. Sleep apnea is an easily treatable condition, which means anyone suffering from a snoring problem could be getting wonderful sleep simply by meeting with a sleep apnea doctor.

Snoring is most common in overweight men, but it’s a problem that can affect people of any gender or weight. And unfortunately, it can be difficult to self-diagnose snoring if you don’t have a partner who has told you.

Some signs of snoring include feeling tired and groggy during the day or having difficulty focusing, but the best way to tell if you snore is to record yourself while you sleep and play it back in the morning to listen for audible snoring. Phone apps like Snore Lab are another great option to automate the process.

Snoring can be a problem on its own, but it’s much more serious if it’s caused by OSA. Here are a few signs to watch for that may indicate you have obstructive sleep apnea:

• You gasp, choke, or stop breathing while asleep
• You suffer from daytime tiredness
• You wake up to use the restroom
• You have difficulty concentrating
• You suffer from morning headaches
• You often have a sore throat
• Your sleep is not restful as you toss and turn often
• You have high blood pressure
• Your snoring disrupts others
• Your lack of sleep is harming your personal relationships

If snoring or sleep apnea are a problem for you, the sleep apnea doctors at Spark Sleep Solutions can help. We coordinate with your primary care physician and your medical insurance to quickly, conveniently test for possible sleep apnea, and our five Bay Area locations in Santa Cruz, San Ramon, Los Gatos, Sunnyville, and San Jose make it easy to get checked for sleep apnea near you.

There are a number of options available to you for sleep apnea treatment, but we’re proud to be a sleep apnea treatment center that offers oral appliance therapy as an alternative to CPAP machines. Oral appliance therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for sleep apnea that requires no mask, power supply, or cords: instead, you simply wear a comfortable, convenient oral appliance – similar to a retainer – when you sleep at night. The appliance shifts the orientation of your jaw to prevent your throat from closing, offering a lightweight, convenient, and cost-effective treatment for sleep apnea.

If you snore or suffer from sleep apnea, an amazing night’s rest is just a phone call or email away. The skilled sleep apnea doctors at Spark Sleep Solutions are proud to offer snoring treatment, sleep apnea treatment, and affordable, easy sleep solutions to help our patients feel rested, and live happier, healthier lives. We offer amazing CPAP alternatives that do not require a mask, electricity, or a machine for those who cannot tolerate the CPAP mask. And with five office locations in Santa Cruz, San Jose, San Ramon, Los Gatos, and Sunnyville, visits are close by and convenient.

Sleep apnea is a problem for far too many people, and snoring affects even more. Thankfully, at Spark Sleep Solutions, we can help. If you’re ready to treat snoring for good and feel more energized during the day, give us a call at 408-490-0182, send an email to info@sparksleep.com, or book your appointment online today. We can’t wait to help you discover the magic and the power of a healthy, restful night’s sleep!