Snoring
While snoring is one of the primary symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, it does not necessarily mean the snorer has sleep apnea. Many people snore even though they continue breathing normally during sleep. Snoring is caused when soft tissues in the airway relax, which makes them vibrate. Like sleep apnea, snoring is a treatable condition.
Why do I snore?
Snoring is a very common sleep condition, seen more often in males, older adults, and overweight people. Still, snoring is a sleep issue that affects people of different ages and genders. It’s basically noisy breathing that happens when you sleep. The noise occurs when air passes the relaxed tissues in your throat, and they vibrate against one another.
Many variables contribute to whether or not a person snores. The throat muscles tend to become more relaxed as you age, causing snoring to become more frequent. These sounds can also happen due to anomalies in your nose and throat like a deviated nasal septum or enlarged tonsils. Situational factors may also cause snoring, such as an inflamed nasal passage due to allergy season, or sleeping on your back.
Is my snoring a problem?
One of the main ways many people come to acknowledge a problem with snoring is that the noise is a nuisance to a partner. The harsh sound may keep your partner awake or interrupt his or her sleep. Snoring can cause you to wake up frequently during the night, resulting in irritability, daytime fatigue, and even morning headaches. In addition, snoring can also be a sign of a serious health condition called sleep apnea. This condition involves an obstruction of normal breathing patterns during sleep, requiring the person to awaken in order to breathe properly.
How can The Sleep Lab help me stop snoring?
If snoring has caused resentment or discord in your relationship or is affecting your functioning during the day, you should see one of our doctors at the Sleep Lab Hawaii. To minimize snoring, our team of skilled specialists much first uncover the cause behind your snoring. You will complete an interview about your medical history, sleep habits, and lifestyle. You may also have to undergo a physical examination and a battery of tests.
Depending on the results of your tests, our physicians can help you reduce snoring with customized treatment options, such as changes in your lifestyle, sleep position training, a CPAP, and other medical equipment as necessary.
