50% of adults snore. Half of them snore regularly. Maybe you sleep with one of them, or perhaps you are the snorer. Lots of times you don’t know you’re the guilty party until someone tells you. How embarrassing! It may be just an annoying problem, but it can be something more serious than just keeping your partner awake. When should you see a doctor for snoring testing?
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
A small percentage of people who snore have obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. It causes you to stop breathing for ten seconds or more many times during the night. This is due to the upper airway collapsing or narrowing. Each time this occurs, your heart is working harder and it lowers the oxygen in your blood.
The result is you are not getting the rest you need leading to sleepiness and lack of focus during the day. If left untreated OSA, can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease or serious accidents.
You may have heard that the death of Carrie Fisher was caused by untreated OSA, and football player Reggie White’s death was caused partially from OSA. Obviously, this can be quite serious and should not be ignored.
What Are Symptoms of OSA?
In addition to loud snoring, there are other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
They include:
- Waking up during the night choking or gasping for air
- Waking with a sore throat
- Daytime sleepiness
- Having a headache in the morning
- Irritability and mood changes
- Depression and inability to concentrate or focus during the day
Treating OSA Begins With a Sleep Test
A sleep study is known as a polysomnogram. An ENT specialist like Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat may suggest a sleep study if you have symptoms of OSA. This study will determine if your snoring is due to a nasal allergy, an infection, a nasal obstruction, a large set of tonsils or adenoids or from obstructive sleep apnea.
The sleep study may be done at home or at a specific sleep facility. It electronically records specific physical activities while you are sleeping. Once the recordings are analyzed by specialists at the sleep lab, the results will be sent to Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat.
The Results Are Invaluable
You will learn how long you slept, how often you woke up, how long you stopped breathing and how often, plus your sleep positions, whether you moved in your sleep, and any unusual neurological patterns.
All this information will tell whether you actually have OSA and its severity.
What Are Treatments for Snoring and OSA?
There are numerous treatments including some newer less obtrusive equipment options.
A CPAP machine, or a continuous positive airway pressure device, has been the most common type of treatment for OSA. This device is a mask you wear that covers your mouth and nose at night. It stabilizes all parts of the upper airway, but is quite cumbersome and needs constant maintenance and cleaning. Finally, not everyone can tolerate it.
There is also a custom fit device which repositions the lower jaw forward. It must be fitted by Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat or a dentist.
The latest treatment is a maskless and hoseless therapy called Inspire. It includes an implant, a remote, and an app.
Finally, there are several surgical options to treat OSA.
Talk to Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat in Savannah, GA
Contact Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat at (912) 355-2335 if you have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and want to request a snoring test.