Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Are Sleep Apnea and Snoring inter-related?

Though both Sleep Apnea and Snoring fall into the category of sleep-disordered breathing they are not the same thing. Snoring is not sleep apnea, and sleep apnea is not snoring. Sleep apnea is the complete blockage of the airway for several seconds whereas snoring is a partial blockage of the airway. Snoring is simply a loud sound that you make during breathing while asleep. Snoring may accompany sleep apnea, but only snoring does not mean that breathing has stopped. A person with sleep apnea can snore but it's not necessary that a person who snores have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is usually obstructive since the breathing passage between the nose and the voice box is blocked. Snoring usually occurs due to vibration of the tissue in the throat, usually while the patient is breathing through the mouth. It is a common annoyance affecting 20% of the adult population. Snoring by itself is not necessarily dangerous, but it may be a symptom of sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, which can be dangerous.

The consequences or effects of sleep apnea include excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, fatigue headaches, cognitive dysfunction, poor memory and judgment impairment, irritability, deceased libido, hypertension, nocturia, sweating, and an increased tendency for accidents. Snoring has many social consequences, which include marital discord, separate bedrooms, even separation and divorce, and angry neighbors.

A number of appliances and treatments exist today to treat snoring and sleep apnea disorders. Prosthetic treatment for Sleep apnea and Snoring involves placement of oral appliances like mouthpiece in the mouth to alter jaw position and thereby increase the size of the airway. This is very successful in cases of mild sleep apnea and snoring. There are many other treatment options for sleep apnea and snoring such as:

Losing weight.
Limiting the use of alcohol, and tobacco.
Avoiding smoking.
Nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure) is a procedure in which an appliance forces air at positive pressure into the patient's airway during sleep.
Surgically straightening the septum of the nose. This usually works well for snoring, and it may be part of the recommended treatment for sleep apnea. Also, it may help the patient better tolerate nasal CPAP.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure where the soft palate and tissues of the throat are tightened. If tonsils are present, they are also removed at the same time.
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is a laser device, which is used to remove the uvula and part of the soft palate by vaporizing it. The heat induces a burn, which causes scarring and stiffening of the soft palate. This surgery can stop snoring but is probably not helpful in sleep apnea treatment
Snoroplasty is a new procedure that involves injection of a sclerosing agent into the palate, which induces soft tissue scarring. It is also relatively painless. Diathermy palatal reduction is an office procedure, which is effective for both mild-to-moderate sleep apnea and snoring
Other surgical procedures on the back portion (base) of tongue or through the neck

Remember that one kind or method of treatment is not the answer for all patients with sleep apnea and snoring so more than one treatment may be required.

Effects of Sleep Apnea

The consequences or effects of sleep apnea range from annoying to life threatening. The main effects of sleep apnea are

Non-Surgical Sleep Apnea Treatments

There are many treatments available for sleep apnea sufferers, which include both surgical and non-surgical sleep apnea treatments. But you should always consult your doctor to determine which sleep apnea treatment is best for you.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea happens when enough air cannot move into your lungs while you are sleeping. When you are awake, and normally during sleep, your throat muscles keep your throat open and air flows into your lungs. Here we are going to see some common symptoms of sleep apnea. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include

Surgical Sleep Apnea Treatments

In cases where all non-surgical sleep apnea treatments fail or if the sleep apnea is severe, surgical sleep apnea treatments may be necessary. The goal of surgery for sleep apnea is to remove excess tissue from your nose or throat that may be vibrating and causing you to snore, or that may be blocking your upper air passages and causing sleep apnea. Surgical sleep apnea treatment options may include:

What is the Relation Between Sleep Apnea and Acid Reflux?

Is there any relation between sleep apnea and acid reflux? Yes, it’s definite that sleep apnea and acid reflux are linked together. Sleep apnea and acid reflux often go hand in hand.

Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Problems

Symptoms of thyroid problems occur when the thyroid gland, which regulates the speed of the body's metabolism doesn’t operate properly. That means it does not convert the food that we eat into energy.

Home Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Medications are generally not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. Therefore more and more people are attracted towards the home treatment for sleep apnea. If you have mild sleep apnea you can treat it at home. Home treatment for sleep apnea includes:

Essential Oils used for Insomnia and Sleep Apnea

Essential oils are used for Insomnia and Sleep Apnea due to their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and calming effects, which help in inducing sleep. If you are able to concentrate on the smell of the oils, it will help you to Relax, breathe deep, and allow yourself to drift off into a calmer world of peaceful aroma. This is another reason why essential oils are used for Insomnia and Sleep Apnea.

7 Tips On Using Ayurveda For A Sounder Sleep

With the growing number of individuals suffering from chronic sleep disorders, it has come to the attention of health practitioners to address this problem. After all, lack of quality sleep could impact one's health immensely. Ayurveda is considered as one of the natural methods of improving quality of sleep to regain one's health and vitality.

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