Is your snoring just snoring, or is there a chance that you are showing early signs of sleep apnea? Most people wouldn’t know one way or the other, so if you don’t know, don’t feel bad. It often takes going in and getting tested for sleep apnea, or having someone close to you that has it, to even know that the condition exists. If you are trying to figure out if you may have apnea, then it is best to educate yourself about it. That way, you know what to be on the lookout for and what to do if you notice the signs.

How Snoring and Sleep Apnea Are Connected

Snoring and sleep apnea are connected because snoring is often the first sign that you may be suffering from apnea. Your body makes the noises associated with snoring because there happens to be some type of an obstruction in the way of what would normally be free-moving air. If that obstruction is removed, you can freely breathe again, and the sound of snoring stops. The obstruction can be something temporary, such as when you are sick with tonsillitis, or it can be something permanent, like the tongue shifting back into your throat and obstructing how you breathe.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Often Share These Ailments

Because your breathing is obstructed, you are not getting the same quality of sleep you should. Apnea can cause a lot of sleep disturbances, and can leave you feeling incredibly tired at the end of the day. An elongated uvula is one thing that can obstruct breathing and lead to sleep apnea. Tonsillitis can enlarge your tonsils, but some people are simply born with larger tonsils than others, which can obstruct how you breathe.

If your soft palate is longer than normal, it can shift back and obstruct how you sleep at night. Normally, it is in place as the roof of your mouth, but when you lie on your back, it can lower back towards the back of your head, and make breathing a bit more difficult. Being overweight can leave you with a lot of bulk around your neck, which can put pressure on your throat when you are trying to sleep. In cases like this, losing weight can often help resolve your sleep apnea, but it is not always that simple.

Evaluation for Sleep Apnea

When you think you may have sleep apnea, one of the first things to do is go in and get checked out. You need to have a professional diagnosis before you can figure out what treatment is going to work for you. There are a few things you will want to talk with your medical professional about when you go in to be evaluated. If you have a witness that has seen and heard you repeatedly stop breathing during your sleep, you may want that person to come to the appointment with you, as that can be very valuable information for the doctor. Your dentist or doctor is going to want to have a few tests done, including checking you for signs of heart disease, plus signs of high cholesterol and blood pressure.

How Sleep Apnea is Often Treated

There are quite a few options when it comes to treating sleep apnea. You can lose weight if that is where your sleep apnea comes from. You can also have your tonsils or adenoids removed if them being enlarged is what is causing you to struggle to breathe during the night. If your uvula is enlarged, you may be a candidate for having it decreased in size, but that is not something everyone can have done.

If your sleep apnea is severe enough, you may need to be fitted for an oral appliance. This will hold your mouth open in a different position which can allow you to breathe more freely. This has to be created by your dentist, and should be worn every night during sleep. The most severe types of sleep apnea are treated with a machine that puts pressure into your airways to help keep them open and free of obstructions when you sleep. It is a device that you wear when you sleep, like a mask. The noise is often a complaint from people who suffer from sleep apnea at the beginning, but they quickly adjust to it and appreciate the increased quality of sleep it can provide.

Get Yourself Diagnosed Properly in Columbus, Ohio

If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, then you should go in and get checked. A professional diagnosis allows you to know what you are facing, and what consequences to be on the lookout for. Don’t struggle with snoring or apnea on your own. There is help out there.

For concerns about sleep apnea, go in and see Mark Levy, DDS. He can help you with diagnosing the condition, as well as figuring out what type of treatment options you have. He can be reached by calling (614)777-7350 today!