Snoring

Basic Overview:

Typically, snoring increases in frequency and intensity with every decade of our lives. Snoring occurs with children when large tonsils and adenoids are present. By age 20, approximately 20% of men and 10% of women are snoring. After 60, almost 60% of men snore most nights and approximately 35-40% of women are snoring to the same degree. The sleep doctors at Sleep Medicine Associates of Texas can help you stop snoring no matter your age. We offer a variety of solutions for snoring that include weight loss, sleep position training, specialized nasal valves, oral snore devices, oral positioning appliances and CPAP. Snoring treatment typically includes a consultation with a snoring doctor, a prescription for simple snoring or an overnight sleep study at our sleep clinic depending on the individual case.

The likelihood that our sleep study will identify significant sleep apnea in a normal snorer is around 10-15%.

Risks:
While not generally a health risk in most people, simple snoring can be a symptom of other issues, such as:

• Slightly greater chances of increased blood pressure
• Loss of sleep for both the snorer and their bed partner

Treatments:

• Treat allergies
• Stop sleeping on your back
• Avoid alcohol in the 2 hours before bedtime

Disruptive Snoring

Disruptive or abnormal snoring disrupts the sleep of a bed partner. The bed partner may intervene by turning the snorer over, sleeping in another room or wearing earplugs. This kind of snoring problem may also manifest as intermittent snorting sounds.

The sleep doctors at Sleep Medicine Associates of Texas have snoring solutions to stop disruptive snoring. Testing has shown that 25-35% of abnormal snorers have sleep apnea.

Risks:
While not generally a health risk in most people, abnormal snoring may be a symptom of other issues, such as:

• Separate bedrooms
• Obesity
• Higher blood pressure
• Unexplained fatigue or sleepiness

Treatments:
There are several underlying conditions that can cause disruptive snoring. Treatment options include:

• Screening test for sleep apnea
• Weight loss advice
• Allergy treatment
• Sleep positioning training
• Oral appliance therapy
• Eliminate alcohol in the 2 hours before sleep
• Referral to Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) surgeon to determine if there are any structural abnormalities of nose or sinuses

Dangerous Snoring

Dangerous snoring is the snoring that results in the interruption of breathing. Stoppages in breathing usually indicate the health problem of sleep apnea/hypopnea. Choking, gasping, and snorting may also occur when the individual has held his or her breath for a few seconds and then must wake up to again start breathing.

The trained sleep doctors at Sleep Medicine Associates of Texas can offer effective snoring solutions for dangerous snorers. Testing has shown that 50-90% of dangerous snorers have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is discovered in a dangerous snorer about 50-90% of the time in the studies we conduct.

Health Risks
Individuals with dangerous snoring often are very restless at night, wake up feeling tired and feel sleepy during the day. Dangerous snoring of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea can cause or worsen:

• High blood pressure
• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Diabetes
• Heart Failure
• Arrhythmia
• Falling

Treatments:
For the individual seeking to stop dangerous snoring, an overnight sleep study should be done by one of our expert sleep specialists. The degree of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea will determine the most effective treatment.

For a mild severity of apnea (less than 15 breathing events per hour), weight loss will likely be prescribed. Also, sleeping on the side or stomach may prove helpful for some. Some will benefit from a consultation with Dr. Roberts, our oral appliance specialist, for a fitting of a specialized jaw splint.

For moderate severity of apnea (15-30 breathing events per hour), a snoring device such as the CPAP will be recommended.

If you have severe apnea (30+ breathing events per hour), treatment should begin with CPAP in our sleep lab.

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