Sleep Apnea: Why Loud Snoring Is a Health Warning

Dr.Pavitra Shankar, 3 mins read

While it is often joked about and dismissed, loud snoring can often be a symptom of a rather serious medical condition known as sleep apnea. The question on everyone’s mind is, "Will sleep apnea kill you?" The fact is, yes, apnea can kill you, and it can do it without you even realising it. Knowing more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of sleep apnea can help you realise just how serious this medical condition is.

Symptoms

Generally, the symptoms of sleep apnea are exhibited during sleep, and as such, it is often hard to recognise them at first. It is often up to a loved one to recognise the symptoms and warn you.

Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea are:

Loud and chronic snoring
Pausing in breathing during sleep
Gasping and choking during sleep
Excessive sleepiness during the day
Morning headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Irritation and mood swings
Dryness of the throat and mouth upon waking

While it is true that not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, it is also true that not everyone with sleep apnea snores. Loud and chronic snoring is often a symptom of sleep apnea.

Snoring is caused by partially obstructed breathing through the mouth and nose while sleeping. When this obstruction is severe, it results in sleep apnea, where breathing stops for some time.

There are two types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This is the most common form of sleep apnea. It is caused by excessive relaxation of the muscles in the throat, thereby obstructing breathing. Go to the experts at Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka, for consultation.
Central Sleep Apnea: This form of sleep apnea is caused by improper brain signals to the breathing muscles.

The loud snoring of sleep apnea patients is caused by difficulty in breathing, thereby vibrating the tissues.

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

While anyone can develop sleep apnea, certain factors increase the risk.

Key risk factors include:

Obesity or excess weight
Large neck circumference
Age over 40
Smoking
Alcohol consumption before sleep
Family history of sleep apnea
Nasal congestion or structural airway problems
Male gender (though women can also develop it)

Lifestyle and health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can also increase the risk of developing sleep apnea.

How to diagnose the condition?

Sleep apnea is often not diagnosed since people often do not suspect anything is wrong with them, thinking that snoring is harmless. However, if there are symptoms, it is possible to get treatment.
The most common test is known as a sleep study, which is also called polysomnography. This involves monitoring various body functions during sleep, which include:

Breathing patterns
Oxygen levels
Heart rate
Brain activity
Body movements

These tests can be carried out at home and in a lab using special devices.

Treatment

If you are wondering whether apnea can actually kill you, then it is important to understand that sleep apnea, if left untreated, can lead to life-threatening health issues such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be treated, and some of the common treatment methods include:

Lifestyle Changes
Weight loss
Avoiding alcohol consumption before bedtime
Sleeping on the side instead of the back
Stopping the use of tobacco products

CPAP Therapy

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are one of the best treatments available. The machine simply keeps the airway open by blowing air through a mask.

Oral Appliances

Dentists can also provide oral appliances, devices placed in the mouth to keep the airway open.

Surgery

Surgery is another option, but it is recommended only in certain cases.

Loud snoring should not be taken lightly and should not be considered just a nuisance. It is considered one of the initial symptoms of sleep apnea, which can have significant effects on your health if not treated properly. If you are wondering will sleep apnea will kill you, it is essential to understand that it can cause severe health issues if it is not treated properly. The good news is that it can be treated and can have significant effects on improving the quality of life.

If you are experiencing loud snoring and sleep disruptions, it is essential to consider seeking medical assistance to avoid severe effects on your health. You can call up experts at Aakash Healthcare on 88 000 159 05.