IS SNORING AFFECTING YOUR LIFE?

Snoring

Studies show that possibly as many as 10% of adults have a snoring habit.  Most of these adults have a fairly benign snoring habit which merely causes a general feeling of tiredness and possibly spousal annoyance. Others have a more serious condition called OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), which affects their general health, especially their heart, and can lead to an increased incidence of heart attack and stroke. 

What to look for?

Simple snoring can be caused from excess weight, alcohol consumption and being overly tired from the day.  Sometimes your spouse is the first person to let you know you have this habit and solutions can range from a gentle nudge all the way to sleeping in separate rooms to get away from the constant noise!

Symptoms of more serious snoring habits can include:

Are you still extremely tired despite a full night's sleep?
Do you feel tired during the day?
Do you have a headache on waking?
Do you gasp or stop breathing when you sleep?

If you suspect you are a snorer, and have any of these symptoms, you should let your doctor know and they may suggest a PSG study (polysomnogram) to identify or rule out OSA.

If OSA is present, it could explain many of your sleep and/or health related problems and it urgently needs to be addressed.

Treatments

Treatment options depend largely on whether your snoring is a simple nightly habit or if it is combined with obstructive sleep apnea.  If no obstructive sleep apnea is present, then a simple snore appliance can be made in our office. This appliance is removable and is worn only at night, and seems to take care of about 80-90% of our patients' snoring issues. 

If obstructive sleep apnea is present, then a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine and a snore appliance is recommended to be used every night.  Many times with this combination of treatment patients are elated as their daily energy goes up and they feel much more rested when they wake up.

Conclusion

Though snoring may seem like a normal occurrence for many people, there are more serious snoring patterns (OSA mentioned earlier) that can disrupt your general health.  Let your dentist or medical doctor know if you are snoring so treatment options can be discussed.