Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Woman suffering restless night due to partner's snoring

Who snores in your household? You or your bed partner?

Snoring can seriously disrupt healthy sleep, and it's more common than you might think. It can affect your health, your relationships, and your day-to-day energy.

What Causes Snoring

Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is physically obstructed. Some of the causes of snoring include:

Nasal airway obstruction from sinusitis, allergy irritation, nasal polyps, or structural abnormalities.
Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue that allows them to collapse and fall back into the airway.
Bulky throat tissue due to being overweight in adults and large tonsils and adenoids in children.
‍Long soft palate and/or uvula that can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat resulting in obstruction and vibration.

If nasal airway obstruction is contributing to your snoring, a treatment for nasal obstruction like the Celon Method may help address the root cause.

How Common Is Snoring?1

Two-thirds of adults with partners say their partner snores.
As many as 30% of adults over 30 are snorers, and about 5.6% of children snore habitually.
Drowsy driving is linked to an estimated 100,000 crashes and 1,550 fatalities per year, according to NHTSA data.
Of people who snore, about 28% also have sleep apnea.

Here are some symptoms of snoring: 2

‍Awakening in the morning and not feeling rested
‍Morning headaches
‍Change in your level of attention, concentration, or memory
‍Excessive daytime sleepiness

Recent weight gain
Waking at night and feeling confused
Observed pauses in your breathing during sleep
Making vibrating, rattling, or noisy sounds while breathing during sleep.

Snoring is responsible for many health issues, so you should not dismiss any snoring problems you have. Snoring may also be a symptom of sleep apnea that can seriously affect you and the lives of those around you.

Consult with one of our Board Certified Otolaryngologists if you know that you snore or have any of the symptoms listed above.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep. Often, the pauses occur several times per hour and last for over 10 seconds. As your blood-oxygen level decreases, your brain wakes you which can cause a sudden loud gasp or snort. You come out of deep sleep and move to light sleep or wake up completely, which results in poor quality sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and can create loud snoring. OSA most often results from the same issues that cause snoring. Although sleep apnea is usually a chronic condition, many people are unaware that they even suffer from it and go years before their condition is diagnosed. Sometimes it takes a spouse, family member, or close friend to bring the problem to the person’s attention.

Sleep apnea occurs in as high as 40% of adult snorers.

The Statistics on Sleep Apnea 3

Sleep apnea occurs in as high as 20 to 40% of adult snorers.
Up to about 10% of all children face problems with sleep apnea.
People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to be involved in a car crash than those without sleep disorders.
Untreated OSA is linked to a significantly higher risk of stroke and heart disease.
The partner of someone with sleep apnea loses about one hour of sleep per night and may wake up as many as 21 times per hour.

Treatment Options for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

The right treatment depends on what's causing your snoring or sleep apnea, so an evaluation with an ENT is the best place to start. Common treatment options include:

Lifestyle changes: Weight loss, sleeping on your side instead of your back, and avoiding alcohol close to bedtime can reduce symptoms for some patients.
CPAP therapy: A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea, keeping the airway open during sleep.
Oral appliances: Custom-fitted devices can reposition the jaw or tongue to help keep the airway open, often used for mild to moderate cases.
Addressing nasal obstruction: If nasal blockage is contributing to your symptoms, treating it directly can improve airflow and reduce snoring.
Surgical options: In some cases, procedures to address enlarged tonsils, a deviated septum, or other structural issues may be recommended.

Your ENT can help determine which option, or combination of options, fits your specific situation.

Sleep apnea is a serious health problem that can be life threatening if left undiagnosed and untreated.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?

Snoring is noisy breathing during sleep, while sleep apnea involves repeated pauses in breathing that disrupt sleep and can affect oxygen levels. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but loud, frequent snoring, especially with gasping or choking sounds, can be a sign of the condition. An ENT evaluation can help determine which one you're dealing with.

When should I see a doctor about snoring or sleep apnea?

It's worth scheduling an evaluation if you or your partner notice loud, frequent snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, or if you feel excessively tired during the day despite a full night's sleep. Early evaluation can help identify the cause and prevent more serious health effects over time.

Is snoring always a sign of sleep apnea?

No, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, snoring accompanied by symptoms like gasping, choking, or long pauses in breathing during sleep is worth having evaluated by an ENT.

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