At North Texas Sleep Solutions, we’re able to determine the difference between a serious sleep disorder and a normal case of snoring. Sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing at intermittent times throughout the night, followed by gasping sounds as if you’re choking. It’s uncomfortable and potentially dangerous if not treated.
Snoring on the other hand, is a limitation in the airway that echoes in the back of the throat every time you breathe in during a deep sleep. It’s noisy for your bed partner, and can potentially lead to more serious consequences if neglected. So how does sleep apnea get mistaken as harmless snoring? Let’s take a look at the symptoms of each:
Sleep Apnea
Being aware of your sleep at night is crucial to understanding sleep apnea. Depending on the severity of your apnea, neglecting treatment may have fatal consequences on your body, health, and overall mindset. There are short term and long term effects of sleep apnea.
Short term effects include:
- Snoring
- Migraines
- Mood swings
- Daytime sleepiness
- Dry throat and mouth
- Restless sleep
The longer term effects are:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Cardiac Failure
- Heart Disease
- Depression
During bouts of sleep apnea, you are basically deprived of oxygen. This can awaken you in a panic, adding to the fatigue and other daytime problems that ensue with severe lack of proper sleep.
Snoring
Some people have more intense bouts of snoring than others. Their snoring may be loud enough to annoy their bed partner, and may even cause the cessation of breathing due to a slight obstruction in the airway, but the symptoms are much less worrisome than sleep apnea.
Snoring, in most cases, is a precursor of sleep apnea. If you don’t snore, you most likely don’t have the disorder. However sleep apnea sufferers do snore, and it’s this lack of oxygen during the night that needs to be treated.
How Can I Get Quality Sleep?
Our North Texas Sleep Solutions staff is skilled in assessing whether your mild snoring can turn into sleep apnea. Dr. Lauck will evaluate your sleep quality and determine the best course of action from there. If quality sleep is at the top of your health to-do list, look no further than our office in Keller, TX. Getting a good night’s rest is our specialty and one phone call can lead you on a path towards your best sleep ever.