Snoring or Something More?
If you snore, you may know about nightly jabs in the ribs and grumbling from your bed partner, or complaints from neighbors. The noise you make can disrupt their sleep--and your own. It may even be a sign of a more serious problem called sleep apnea.
Snoring Is Annoying
Snoring may harm your sleep and the sleep of your bedmate or people in other rooms. This can put a strain on your relationships. The sound of snoring can also cause hearing loss in both the snorer the the bed partner. Snoring can also be the first sign of sleep apnea, a serious health condition.
Sleep Apnea Is Serious
If you have sleep apnea, your throat becomes blocked during sleep. You stop breathing for short periods of time. To breathe, you must briefly wake up. The cycle repeats many, many times throughout the night. Besides snoring, you may:
- Gasp or snort in your sleep.
- Wake up tired after a full night's sleep
- Wake up with a headache.
- Feel very sleepy or even fall asleep during the day.
- Have problems with memory or concentration.
- Be cranky or short-tempered.
Sleep apnea also makes you more likely to develop certain other heath problems, such as:
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Hearing loss
- High chloresterol
- Heart burn
- Sexual dysfunction
A Range of Treatment Options
Dr. Braga can discuss with you the various treatment options for snoring and sleep apnea. Treatment can help you breathe freely again so you get a good night's sleep.