Sleep Apnea/Snoring

 

Snoring is a sign of a more serious medical condition known as sleep apnea. Just like headaches are a sign of a more serious medical condition known as hypertension, or 'high blood pressure'. If you went to your primary care doctor complaining of headaches, he/she would check your blood pressure. But not everyone with a headache has high blood pressure, and not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

So, basically there are two types of snoring. The first is cosmetic snoring, which is noise that other people find objectionable. The second is sleep apnea, where you're breathing actually stops intermittently during the night.

People with sleep apnea stop breathing repetitively throughout the night during episodes of snoring. It is a serious health hazard that can lead to high blood pressure, heart/lung disease or stroke. Patients with sleep apnea typically experience daytime sleepiness, severe snoring, morning headaches, and poor concentration. This condition is diagnosed with an overnight sleep study. Treatment options for this condition are weight loss, avoiding alcohol, nasal CPAP(continuous positive airway pressure), and surgery to remove the tonsils, and trim the soft palate and uvula.

Both types of snoring can be caused, or made worse, by a narrowing of the nose or throat. A careful examination of the airway by an Ear Nose and Throat physician can help determine the cause of the snoring. Some of the possible causes of nose narrowing include a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, allergies, and chronic rhinitis. In the throat a floppy soft palate, enlarged tonsils, large tongue could also be the cause of the obstruction.

A careful history and physical examination should be obtained to arrive at an accurate diagnosis, so that the appropriate treatment options can be considered.