Snoring and sleep apnea represent a widespread but often overlooked health issue. While snoring is commonly perceived as a minor annoyance, it can signal more serious conditions such as hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea.

Snoring results from turbulent airflow in the throat due to airway narrowing during sleep. In some individuals, this narrowing can cause a complete blockage, leading to breathing pauses that may last over 30 seconds. This condition is known as apnea. Unfortunately, apneas can occur multiple times during sleep, disrupting the sleep cycle and causing excessive daytime drowsiness and fatigue. Over time, this condition can negatively impact heart and lung health.

Common signs of Sleep Apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Episodes of stopped breathing during sleep, often noticed by someone else
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating, even after waking up
• Insomnia
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• High blood pressure

 

Diagnosis & Treatment

Our ENT Specialist may assess your symptoms and sleep history to determine the presence of sleep apnea and recommend further testing for a precise diagnosis. This evaluation might involve overnight monitoring of your breathing and other physiological functions at a sleep center. Various tests can detect sleep apnea, including:

Nocturnal Polysomnography: This test involves being connected to equipment that monitors your heart, lung, and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.
Home sleep tests:These straightforward home tests help measure your breathing rate, blood oxygen level, and breathing patterns.