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Snoring Is Not Always Harmless: When It Could Be Sleep Apnea | Dr Sanjeev Mohanty

In most homes, snoring is a joke. The family teases him about it, someone sleeps in the other room, and life goes on. But when I ask patients a few more questions, the story changes. "Yes doctor, I wake up tired." "Yes, my wife says I stop breathing for a few seconds." "Yes, I fall asleep in meetings." That is not just snoring anymore.

Snoring versus sleep apnea

Dr Sanjeev Mohanty
fig 1. Snoring Is Not Always Harmless: When It Could Be Sleep Apnea

Snoring happens when the airway in the throat narrows during sleep and the tissue vibrates. Plenty of people snore without any serious problem. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway repeatedly closes for a few seconds during sleep, and breathing stops and starts again. The brain keeps waking you up slightly to restart breathing, and you never reach deep, proper sleep, even after eight hours in bed.

Signs that need attention

- Loud, regular snoring, especially with choking or gasping sounds

- Someone has seen you pause breathing in sleep

- Heavy sleepiness in the daytime, even after a full night

- Morning headaches, dry mouth or sore throat on waking

- Poor concentration, irritability, low mood

- Waking up often at night to pass urine

Why it should not be ignored

Untreated sleep apnea is linked with high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, higher risk of heart disease and diabetes, and a higher risk of accidents because of drowsiness, including while driving. The good news is that it is treatable, and people often say they feel like a new person after a few weeks.

How we find out

We start with a conversation and an examination of the nose, mouth and throat. If sleep apnea is suspected, we advise a sleep study, either in a lab overnight or, for some patients, a home test. It tells us how many times breathing stops and how severe the problem is.

What treatment looks like

- Lifestyle: weight loss if needed, avoiding alcohol and heavy meals close to bedtime, sleeping on your side

- Treating a blocked nose, allergies or enlarged tonsils if they are part of the problem

- CPAP, a gentle machine that keeps the airway open during sleep. It takes a little getting used to, but it works very well

- Oral appliances for selected mild cases

- Surgery in carefully selected patients when a clear anatomical cause is found

If someone at home snores loudly and wakes up tired, please do not laugh it off. A simple consultation can tell us if it is plain snoring or something that needs treatment. 

Dr Sanjeev Mohanty

Snoring vs Sleep Apnea: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?
Snoring happens when the airway in the throat narrows during sleep and the tissue vibrates. Many people snore without any serious problem. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway repeatedly closes for a few seconds, and breathing stops and starts again. The brain keeps waking you up slightly to restart breathing, so you never reach deep sleep, even after eight hours in bed.

Q2. What are the signs that snoring may be sleep apnea?
Watch out for loud, regular snoring with choking or gasping sounds, and someone noticing that you pause breathing in sleep. Other signs are heavy daytime sleepiness even after a full night, morning headaches, dry mouth or sore throat on waking, poor concentration, irritability, low mood, and waking up often at night to pass urine.

Q3. Why should sleep apnea not be ignored?
Untreated sleep apnea is linked with high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes. Drowsiness also raises the risk of accidents, including while driving. The good news is that it is treatable, and people often say they feel like a new person after a few weeks.

Q4. How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
It starts with a conversation and an examination of the nose, mouth and throat. If sleep apnea is suspected, a sleep study is advised, either in a lab overnight or, for some patients, as a home test. It shows how many times breathing stops and how severe the problem is.

Q5. What are the treatment options for sleep apnea?
Treatment includes lifestyle changes such as weight loss if needed, avoiding alcohol and heavy meals close to bedtime, and sleeping on your side. Blocked nose, allergies or enlarged tonsils are treated if they are part of the problem. CPAP, a gentle machine that keeps the airway open during sleep, works very well once you get used to it. Oral appliances are used for selected mild cases, and surgery is considered in carefully selected patients when a clear anatomical cause is found.

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