Health Care

Snoring and sleep apnea

How to distinguish normal snoring from potentially harmful Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apneas (OSA) are most common in people with obesity,and the risks of OSA increase with age. Problems with sleep apnea may have a variety of causes; as such, an initial diagnosis that is accurate is important.
Once the cause/causes have been pinpointed appropriate treatment can begin. Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be surgical and non-surgical.

Types of Snoring

  1. Normal Snoring – In the long-term this can have a significant impact on the individual as it can cause blood vessels to the brain to thicken.Furthermore, it can cause one’s partner to have difficulty in sleeping, as well as affect their quality of sleep.
  2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea – This occurs because the airways become completely narrowed during sleep. As with snoring, when you sleep the muscles and tissues in the throat relax, but sometimes they may relax to such an extent that breathing is completely blocked. Sleep Apnea can be identified by loud snoring which is then followed by periods when breathing stops or nearly stops, causing the brain to send alarm signals resulting in the individual waking up due to the lack of oxygen. This may happen several times a night, causing the person to not feel rested and sleepy the next day. Sleep apnea can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, and stroke.

People with obesity will most likely snore; however snoring is also present in skinnier individuals

Sleep Lab – A sleep lab is when body activity is monitored during sleep and is used to determine the type of snore the patient is experiencing,as well as indicate the severity of any conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea and aid your physician in outlining an effective treatment plan.

Who should take a Sleep Lab?

For Adults, a Sleep lab should be taken if:

For Children, a Sleep Lab should be taken if:

Source: https://www.bangkokinternationalhospital.com/health-articles/disease-treatment/snoring-and-sleep-apnea