If You Snore, Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

When you snore the flow of air from your mouth or nose to your lungs makes the tissues of the airway vibrate. This is usually caused by a blockage or narrowing in the nose, mouth or throat. Many times the back of the mouth—where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula—collapses and blocks the airway and causes snoring.

Snoring can be caused by enlarged tissues in the nose, mouth or throat; blocked nasal passages due to infection or allergies; or a deviated nasal septum. And, when you drink alcohol or take medicines, the back of your mouth can relax causing a blockage of air. The heavier you get the narrower your air pathway.

Obstructive sleep apnea is defined as “a blockage of the airway.” And…well…that definition sure sounds similar to snoring. How is it different?

Sleep apnea is much more serious than snoring and occurs when your breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea can stop breathing repeatedly during sleep…sometimes hundreds of times a night. When this happens, your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen.

According to WebMD, during a sleep apnea episode, the diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the obstructed airway and pull air into the lungs. Breathing usually resumes with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk. These episodes can interfere with sound sleep. They can also reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs and cause irregular heart rhythms.

Folks who have sleep apnea don’t always have sleep complaints. It is important to recognize the signs of sleep apnea though, including:

• daytime sleepiness or fatigue 
• dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening 
• headaches in the morning
• trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, depression, or irritability
• night sweats
• restlessness during sleep
• sexual dysfunction
• snoring
• sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking 
• difficulty getting up in the mornings

As you can see, snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, but not the only one. If you snore and are concerned you may have sleep apnea, a simple sleep evaluation can rule it out or get you the therapy needed to start sleeping and feeling better.