Any patient who is familiar with sleep apnea knows that snoring is one of the most prominent symptoms. Those who have a history of snoring, or whose loved one keeps them awake at night may be a candidate for a sleep apnea diagnosis. But at Sleep MD , there’s one important question that needs to be answered: Does snoring cause sleep apnea? Or, is it the other way around?
Before investing in sleep apnea treatment in New York, let’s look at some medical information regarding the connection between sleep apnea and snoring. While one may be symptomatic of another, that does not necessarily mean that they cause the condition. Here’s what snoring really means, and whether it is a sign that you are suffering with a dangerous sleeping condition.
There is More than One Type of Snoring
While snoring may be a sign that you are suffering from OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), it doesn’t mean that all signs of snoring imply this. In fact, you can differentiate between normal snoring and snoring caused by sleep apnea by how it sounds, as well as whether it pairs with other symptoms.
The type of snoring that occurs due to sleep apnea often sounds like choking and gasping for air, rather than just the normal grumbles and rumbles. This is because OSA comes with many symptoms that obstruct the breathing pathways, making it very difficult to breathe during the sleeping process. There may even be a few seconds in between snores where the sleeper stops breathing altogether. This is a very dangerous sign of OSA and requires sleep apnea treatment in New York right away.
Other types of snoring can be caused by age, body shape, nasal congestion, smoking, or a certain sleep position, and are typically not a cause for alarm.
Clear Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
If you are wondering whether your sleep apnea is caused by your snoring, you should consider it to be the other way around. And if you are worried about your sleep apnea diagnosis, know that there are other symptoms that go along with this condition as well. You may not be able to diagnose OSA from simply snoring, but you may want to look out if you also carry the following symptoms:
- Sleeping with your mouth open
- Gasping for air in the middle of the night
- Perpetual grogginess throughout the day
- Trouble breathing
- Loud breathing
There is a chance that you may just be diagnosed with primary snoring, which is just a sleeping condition in which you snore at night. If you do not have any of the other symptoms attached to it, then you may not have OSA. It’s important to do some research and speak with your sleep apnea specialist in New York to determine what your next steps should be for the proper treatment. You may be asked to participate in a sleep study or invest in different procedures which may work to treat your sleep apnea symptoms as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in New York
It is crucial to assess your symptoms as soon as possible. The sooner you are diagnosed with OSA, the sooner you can be on a path to healthier living. Don’t let your breathing suffer any longer. If you are interested in learning more about OSA and your snoring symptoms, please contact Dr. Shukla online. You can also give us a call at (212) 661-7077 to schedule a consultation. Please visit our website to learn more about sleep apnea treatment in New York and our proven treatment methods for your health. We look forward to helping you!
