Ah, the familiar nighttime symphony of snoring! If your spouse's snoring is starting to sound like a chainsaw orchestra, you might be wondering, “Could this be more than just snoring? Could they have sleep apnea?” Let's dive in and explore this together.
First, let’s clear the air (pun intended). Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It can sound a lot like snoring, but not all snoring is sleep apnea. Think of snoring like background music, while sleep apnea is more like the power going out mid-song.
It can be hard to tell if it is just snoring or apnea - here are a few signs you can look for to determine if that snoring might be something more:
- Pauses in Breathing: You might notice your spouse’s snoring stop for a few seconds, followed by a gasp or choking sound. It’s as if they’re holding their breath, but they’re not training for an underwater contest.
- Daytime Sleepiness: Is your spouse acting like a zombie during the day, no matter how many hours of sleep they think they got? People with sleep apnea often feel excessively tired, even after what seems like a full night’s rest.
- Restless Sleep: Frequent tossing and turning, waking up to go to the bathroom, or sudden jerks in the night could be signs that their body is struggling to breathe properly.
- Morning Headaches or Dry Mouth: Waking up with a dry mouth or a headache isn’t normal, unless you’ve slept in a desert! These could be signs of disrupted sleep due to sleep apnea.
-Tooth Wear- abnormal flattening and chipping of the teeth can be a sign of sleep apnea as it is their body’s way of trying to move the tongue out of the way to open up their airway and breathe.
While these are helpful observations, sleep apnea can be a serious condition that affects overall health (think high blood pressure, heart issues, etc.). If your loved one shows signs of sleep apnea, it’s time to consult a doctor, sleep specialist, and yes, even your dentist! We can easily refer you for a home sleep study, which is the only way to truly know if someone suffers from sleep apnea. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment options can then be recommended.
Sleep apnea is treatable, and addressing it will not only lead to better sleep for your spouse, but also for you! So, if their snoring is becoming a nightly feature, don’t just grab earplugs – grab some advice from a medical professional. With our help we can help you and your spouse get some quieter nights of sleep.
