Did you know that while many people with sleep apnea tend to snore, not everyone who snores suffers from this condition?
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that causes breathing problems during sleep.
People with sleep apnea may gasp or choke and wake up many times during the night.
This can lead to tiredness during the day and other health issues.
Snoring alone does not mean that someone has sleep apnea.
While snoring is common, it is not enough to diagnose the condition.
If you want to understand the differences between snoring vs sleep apnea, keep reading.
Snoring is a loud sound that happens when air passes through relaxed tissues in the throat while breathing.
This airflow makes the tissues vibrate, creating the familiar noise.
Almost everyone snores occasionally, but for some people, it can become a regular problem that disrupts their sleep and their partner's sleep.
Chronic snoring can also be a sign of a more serious health issue that needs attention.
Fortunately, you can make simple lifestyle changes to reduce snoring.
Losing excess weight, avoiding alcohol before bed, and sleeping on your side can all help you and your partner get better sleep at night.
Certain factors can lead to snoring, including:
A healthcare professional can recognize these issues and assist you in receiving the appropriate treatment for each one.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly during sleep.
If you experience loud snoring, choking or gasping for air while sleeping, or feel very tired despite getting enough sleep, you might have sleep apnea.
There are three main types of sleep apnea, each with different causes:
While OSA is more common than CSA, both types can involve snoring, which can make diagnosis and treatment more difficult.
If you think you might have sleep apnea, talking to a healthcare professional can help you understand and address the condition effectively.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition marked by the narrowing of the upper airway, leading to disrupted airflow during sleep.
This can cause pauses in breathing during sleep, leading to lower blood oxygen levels and can wake the body up briefly to start breathing again.
These interruptions can harm sleep quality.
People with OSA often have many episodes of blocked airways at night, sometimes ranging from dozens to hundreds.
Common symptoms include loud snoring, stopping breathing, choking, and gasping for air.
OSA can also affect waking hours, causing tiredness, headaches, and trouble focusing, which can make everyday tasks unsafe.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Central sleep apnea is a rare but important type of sleep apnea. It happens when the brain does not properly send signals to the muscles that control breathing.
During episodes of this condition, a person may briefly stop trying to breathe, leading to moments where they do not inhale or exhale.
These episodes can cause sudden awakenings with a feeling of not being able to breathe. They can also make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night.
As a result, people with this condition often feel tired and unrested during the day.
While snoring itself might not need medical attention unless it significantly disrupts sleep, suspected sleep apnea should definitely be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
This typically involves a sleep study to monitor breathing patterns throughout the night.
When it comes to treatment options, there are some effective strategies.
For snoring, making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, steering clear of alcohol before bedtime, and adjusting sleep positions can often be beneficial.
In contrast, treating sleep apnea may include various approaches such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral devices, changes in lifestyle habits, or, in more severe cases, surgery.
Snoring vs Sleep Apnea is a common concern that many patients raise at The Junction Family Dental Care.
We hope this article will provide you with a clear understanding of the key differences between these two conditions.
Now that you’re familiar with how snoring and sleep apnea differ, along with their various causes and implications, you can take proactive steps to tackle the issue.
