Many times, snoring during sleep is mistaken to be that the person must be sleeping sound but it could also be a sign of sleep apnea.
Published Sep 02, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 02, 2024 | 7:00 AM
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Snoring might seem like just an annoying noise that disrupts the silence of the night, but for many, it’s more than a harmless quirk.
Snoring is sometimes considered the mark of a good night’s deep sleep. However, sleep experts say it could be a sign of sleep apnea, a serious condition that, left untreated, poses significant health risks.
Knowing the difference between simple snoring and sleep apnea could be the key to a healthier, safer life.
Normal snoring occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in the throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe, creating a rattling sound. It is common and usually not a cause for concern, unless it disturbs someone sleeping nearby or significantly disrupts the snorer’s sleep.
However, sleep apnea, on the other hand, is a serious sleep disorder. Those with sleep apnea stop breathing intermittently during their sleep.
Dr N Ramakrishnan, Senior Consultant, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, explains, “In sleep apnea, the air movement through your air passage is obstructed for various reasons, often due to the collapsing of the muscles of the air passage, reducing air entry to the lungs. This leads to episodes where breathing stops (apnea) or slows down (hypopnea), causing the oxygen level to drop, which can affect the body in various ways.”
The difference between normal snoring and sleep apnea lies in the interruption of the breath while asleep. Dr Ramakrishnan clarifies, “Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but everyone with sleep apnea will snore. If snoring is accompanied by observed pauses in breathing or choking, this suggests sleep apnea.”
Daytime symptoms are also telling. People with sleep apnea often experience non-refreshing sleep, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, and sleepiness. “When they wake up in the morning, they feel that they are not refreshed. They describe it as non-refreshing sleep,” says Dr Ramakrishnan. Chronic fatigue and sleepiness can lead to difficulties in concentration and pose dangers, such as falling asleep while driving.
Snoring and sleep apnea are both associated with obesity and anatomical features; sleep apnea poses the more severe health risk. Dr Ravi Mehta, Founder and Director of VAYU Chest and Sleep Center in Bengaluru, highlights the main causes: “The strongest correlate of sleep apnea is weight gain and obesity. As obesity rates rise, so does the incidence of sleep apnea. Weight gain can lead to fat accumulation in the airway, causing it to narrow. Ageing also plays a role as muscles become floppier.”
Anatomical factors, such as facial structure and nasal passage characteristics, also play a role in the propensity to develop sleep apnea. Lifestyle factors like alcohol consumption can exacerbate the condition. Dr Ramakrishnan says, “Reducing or stopping alcohol consumption is important because alcohol has clearly been shown to worsen sleep apnea.”
There are short- and long-term effects of sleep apnea. Dr Sudhir Kumar, Consultant Neurologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, explains, “In the short term, it leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, affecting work performance and increasing the risk of accidents. Long-term effects include higher risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, and heart attack.”
These serious conditions not only lower the quality of life but can also significantly reduce life expectancy. Distinguishing between simple snoring and potentially life-threatening sleep apnea thus could prove a matter of life and death.
While snoring might seem like a benign inconvenience, it is important to recognise when it could be indicative of a more serious problem. Dr Mehta says, “Differentiating between normal snoring and sleep apnea involves paying attention to additional symptoms such as pauses in breathing, choking, and significant daytime sleepiness. Consulting a healthcare professional is crucial for anyone experiencing these symptoms, as untreated sleep apnea can lead to severe health complications.”
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
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