How Do I Know If I Snore?
Snoring is common among both women and men. Although, according to statistics more men snore than women do - about 40 percent of men compared with 24 percent of women are chronic snorers. However, most people snore at some point in their lives, if only occasionally. So if you snore, you are not alone. Most times, because it happens while you are sleeping, you don't know that you snore. You only find out when someone else hears you and brings it to your attention.
Is Snoring Harmful to Your Health?
Occasional snoring, or even habitual snoring is more harmful to your sleep partner's health than your own. In most cases, you won't know that you snore, but they will. Snoring involves the soft tissue of your oral palate and throat. When you sleep, the tissues relax and collapse slightly. When you breathe in, the air passes these floppy tissues causing them to vibrate which creates the "snoring" sound. This can be irritating to those around you, but not necessarily harmful to your health. That is, unless you have sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can be harmful to your health. The difference between chronic snoring and sleep apnea is that the soft oral tissues relax too much, blocking your airway completely and causing you to temporarily stop breathing. In fact, you can stop breathing up to 100 times a night! When this happens your brain sends a signal to wake you up, depriving you of much needed REM sleep. Sleep apnea is characterized by:
- Loud, excessive snoring
- Frequent awakenings
- Choking or gasping during sleep
Symptoms
If your partner is complaining about your snoring and you are noticing the following symptoms, call us, we can help! Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Moodiness
- Irritability
- Depression