Could Your Snoring Be Sleep Apnea? Signs to Watch For

Snoring vs. sleep apnea

Snoring is the sound of air vibrating the relaxed tissues at the back of the throat. On its own it’s mostly a nuisance, though a loud one for anyone sharing the room.

Obstructive sleep apnea is different. The airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, so breathing briefly stops or becomes very shallow, sometimes dozens of times an hour. Each time, the brain partly wakes you to restart breathing. Most people never remember these awakenings, which is why sleep apnea so often goes unnoticed for years.

Signs worth acting on

Snoring is more likely to mean sleep apnea when it comes with any of these:

• A partner notices pauses in your breathing, or you wake up gasping or choking
• You snore loudly most nights, not just after a late dinner or a glass of wine
• You wake up unrefreshed, or with a headache or dry mouth
• You feel sleepy during the day, especially while driving or in meetings
• You have high blood pressure that’s hard to control
• You wake up several times a night to use the bathroom

Being overweight, having a large neck size, being male and getting older all raise the risk, but sleep apnea also affects people who are slim and young. Women are often underdiagnosed because their symptoms can show up as tiredness or poor sleep rather than loud snoring.

Why it’s worth taking seriously

Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and a higher risk of drowsy-driving accidents. It also affects mood, memory and concentration. The good news is that it’s very treatable once it’s diagnosed.

How sleep apnea is diagnosed

Only a physician can diagnose sleep apnea. Today many people can do the test at home with a small device worn for a night or two. Others are tested overnight in a sleep lab. The results show how many breathing interruptions you have per hour, which tells your physician whether your sleep apnea is mild, moderate or severe.

If you think you might have it, start with your primary care doctor or a sleep physician. Your dentist can also point you in the right direction, since we often notice signs like worn teeth or a narrow airway during regular exams.

Treatment options

CPAP, a machine that keeps the airway open with gentle air pressure through a mask, is very effective when it’s used every night. Many people find it hard to sleep with, though.

For snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance is a well-studied alternative. It looks like a slim mouthguard and holds the lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep to keep the airway open. There’s no mask or machine, and medical insurance often covers it. It’s also an option for people with severe sleep apnea who can’t tolerate CPAP.

Store-bought snoring mouthguards are not the same thing. They aren’t fitted or adjustable, can strain the jaw or move teeth, and aren’t a treatment for sleep apnea.

Next steps

If your snoring comes with any of the signs above, it’s worth getting tested. If you’ve already been diagnosed and CPAP isn’t working for you, our Deccan Sleep Center provides custom oral appliance therapy and works directly with your sleep physician from start to finish.