21 Nov Is it a Simple Snore or Sleep Apnea?
Sleep Apnea Snore
Many people who have sleep apnea snore. Studies show that around 40 percent of men and 26 percent of women snore; however, only one in 15 Americans suffer from sleep apnea. This doesn’t mean that everyone who snores has sleep apnea or another sleeping disorder.
What is snoring?
Snoring is simply tissues in the structures of the mouth and throat vibrating and creating sound.
What causes it?
Snoring can be caused by the muscles in the mouth and throat being very relaxed, congestion from a cold or flu or something related to the structures in a person’s mouth. Please contact us if anything described in this article sounds familiar to your symptoms.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is more serious than a simple case of snoring. It is characterized by obstruction of one’s breathing throughout the night – in one night, a person with sleep apnea can stop breathing for more than ten seconds up to 100 times per hour, which is considered severe. Shallow breathing, or hypopnea, is in the same family as sleep apnea.
What causes it?
Sleep apnea has a number of potential causes. These include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Having an obstructive tumor or growth in the airway
- The muscles in the back of the throat relaxing too much during sleep
- Having a family history of sleep apnea
- Males tend to develop sleep apnea more than females
- Post-menopausal women
Sleep apnea, in turn, can cause a number of additional issues, including:
- Daytime drowsiness, which can lead to dangerous driving conditions or less productivity at work
- Heart disease
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Stroke
- AFib
Snoring may slightly obstruct one’s breathing while sleeping, but the obstruction is nowhere near as severe as that caused by sleep apnea. Are you experiencing something more intense than snoring? If you are experiencing issues with sleep , contact us today.