Occasional snoring is normal, but if you’ve been told you snore loudly, all of the time, you could be suffering from a serious condition known as sleep apnea. Your ear, nose, and throat specialist can help.
What You Need To Know About Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Occasional snoring can be helped by maintaining a healthy weight, not eating before bed, and sleeping on more than one pillow, so your head is elevated. If these methods don’t help and you find that you snore loudly, deeply, and frequently, it’s time to visit an ENT specialist to determine if you have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is caused by the soft tissue at the back of your throat relaxing and blocking your airway while you sleep. The blocked airway leads to insufficient oxygen getting to your vital organs. Sleep apnea can increase your risk of:
- Developing heart disease
- Having a stroke
- Developing diabetes
- Developing Alzheimer’s disease
In addition to loud, frequent snoring, additional signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Waking up with a gasping or choking sensation
- Waking up with a headache or sore throat
- Feeling fatigued during the day
- Experiencing grogginess and difficulty concentrating during the day
To diagnose sleep apnea, your ENT specialist may recommend a sleep study. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, your ENT specialist may recommend:
A CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine, is a device that produces a continuous supply of oxygen. You breathe the oxygen through a face mask, which you wear while sleeping.
An oral mandibular advancement appliance is a small appliance fitting over your lower teeth. The device holds your lower jaw forward, allowing your airway to remain open during sleep.
Want To Know More About Snoring and Sleep Apnea?
To find out more about snoring and sleep apnea and how your ear, nose, and throat specialist can help, talk with your ENT specialist today.