Is Snoring Always a Sign of Sleep Apnea?

Snoring is a very common condition that people may experience when they sleep. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, which can lead to severe health risks if left untreated. Many people wonder, is snoring always a sign of sleep apnea? The answer is a little tricky. At Alexandria Dental Health and Smile Studio, our cosmetic dentist Mojgan Mazhari, DDS offers excellent sleep apnea treatment and is able to determine if someone simply snores when they sleep or has developed sleep apnea. While sleep apnea may not initially appear to be a dental concern, the treatment is one of many offered in Dr. Mazhari’s comprehensive dentistry catalog. Read on to better understand what sleep apnea is and why snoring is associated with it.

Sleep Apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition that impacts people while they sleep and can lead to serious health concerns. Due to the narrowing of the airway, your breathing becomes restricted while you sleep, and as a result, you may snore. Snoring is not the only concern or symptom of sleep apnea, however. If you are experiencing snoring when you sleep along with other sleep apnea symptoms, you should seek medical assistance to treat your condition. Examples of these symptoms include fatigue, headaches in the morning, mental health symptoms, and dry mouth, to name a few. Untreated sleep apnea can often lead to greater problems down the road, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke — all due to decreased oxygen levels in the blood. Snoring is the most obvious sign that your airway is being obstructed when you sleep and that you may be suffering from sleep apnea. However, snoring does not always mean that you have sleep apnea. Dr. Mazhari utilizes MicrO2^® Sleep and Snore oral appliances to effectively treat individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea and reduce their overall symptoms.

Snoring: While a primary symptom of sleep apnea, snoring does not always indicate that a person is suffering from the obstructive breathing condition. Snoring does, however, always indicate that there is some form of blockage in your breathing when you sleep. Snoring occurs when air flow is being distorted in some manner when you are sleeping and creates an unnatural sound. Even if you do not have sleep apnea, it can be beneficial to have your sleep patterns and snoring condition checked out by trained medical professionals in order to determine what is causing the obstruction. The verdict on whether snoring is always a sign of sleep apnea is both yes and no. While snoring does not always mean you have sleep apnea, you are, however, likely to experience severe snoring if you are suffering from OSA.

If you believe you may have developed sleep apnea or want to know more about why you snore, contact our practice today to talk about your concerns or schedule a consultation! Sleep apnea should be treated right away so the overall symptoms and conditions do not worsen.