Snoring and Sleep Apnea Disorders

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring can be annoying and may disrupt your bed partner’s sleep. But did you know it disrupts your sleep quality as well?

While some people simply have snoring problems, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can increase the risk for serious health issues.

To get proper treatment for either condition, an appropriate diagnosis is needed. ENT expert Dr. Monica Tadros can quickly diagnose your sleep condition located in our Manhattan, New York, or NJ office.

What Causes Snoring?

If you snore, your throat relaxes too much in your sleep. This causes the tissues in the throat to partially block the airway causing it to vibrate and create the annoying snoring sound.

Depending on the person, snoring can be quiet or extremely loud. Almost everyone snores once in a while, however, if you snore constantly, it can be a sign of bigger health issues.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is similar to snoring where the airway is blocked while you are sleeping. However, people with sleep apnea stop breathing in their sleep. This can last from 10 seconds up to one minute.

The 3 types of sleep apnea include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most common type of sleep apnea. This is where your throat muscles relax and block your airway
• Central sleep apnea: In central sleep apnea the brain is not sending the body the signal that it needs to breathe. Rather than stopping to breathe, people with central sleep apnea experience shallow breathing and then overbreathing.
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome: This is when your breathing starts and stops during your sleep. Complex sleep apnea is less common than the other types.

Symptoms

The symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring are similar. However, there are some differences.

The symptoms of snoring include:

• Restless sleep
• Sore throat when you wake up
• Feeling tired
• Morning headaches
• Difficult concentrating
• Chest pain

The symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Restless sleep and waking up gasping for air
• Dry mouth when waking
• Sleepiness during the day
• Stopped breathing during sleep
• Decreased libido
• High blood pressure

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment

Snoring

Even if your snoring isn’t bothering you too much, it is probably disturbing your partner. Snoring may also be a sign of a more serious condition such as blocked airways, obesity, or a deviated septum.

To treat your snoring some options may include losing weight, sleeping on your side, elevating your head when you sleep, treating your allergies, and avoiding alcohol or sedatives before bed.

If these options don’t work for you, you may need to work on the structure of your nose. If you have a deviated septum surgery may be an option for you. Talk to our ENT specialist at the facial plastic surgery center in NY or NJ to find out if you have a deviated septum and how to treat it.

Sleep Apnea

Treating sleep apnea is a little more difficult than treating snoring. But, there are some things you can try. The first, and most important, is losing weight. This will help you breathe easier at night. You can also try changing your sleeping position and seeing what works for you. For most people, sleeping on their side helps. Try using a humidifier if the air in your house is too dry. You can use essential oils for a nice smell in your home.

Some of these at-home remedies may reduce the symptoms of your sleep apnea, however, you should still see a qualified sleep apnea doctor to treat your symptoms. Your best doctor for facial plastic procedures may prescribe medications or recommend surgery.

This page was published on Sep 26, 2019, modified on Mar 10, 2021 by Dr. Monica Tadros, M.D., F.A.C.S. (Facial Plastic Surgeon)