Snoring may harm your sleep and the sleep of your bed partner. The question is, do you have snoring or snoring with sleep apnea, which is a more serious condition? Snoring is a common sleep disorder that can affect all people at any age, although it occurs more frequently in men and people who are overweight. Snoring has a tendency to worsen with age. 45% of adults snore occasionally, while 25% are considered habitual snorers. Children are a unique case in regards to snoring. Their snoring is usually resolved by removing tonsils and adenoids.
Common Causes of Snoring:
– Nasal obstruction
– Oral airway obstruction
– Obesity
Sleep apnea is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing during sleep. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. It happens when your tongue, tonsils, or other tissues in the back of the throat block the airway. When you try to breathe in, the air can’t get through. Central sleep apnea is less common than OSA. Central sleep apnea means the brain doesn’t always signal the body to breathe when it should.
Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:
– Loud snoring with obstruction
– Frequent night time awakening
– Restless sleep
– Daily fatigue
– Morning headache
– Difficulty concentrating
A sleep study may be required to diagnose a sleep disorder and plan of treatment.