What Is the Difference Between Snoring and Sleep Apnea?
Jun 11th 2023
What is Snoring?
It is more than likely that everyone has snored during some night at some point in their lives. It's a very common thing that happens while sleeping. However, there needs to be some clarification on snoring. For some, chronic snoring may be alarming because they fear it may be a sign of a harsher condition known as sleep apnea. But those do not always go hand in hand. We here at Zyppah believe in ensuring people understand the science and cause behind snoring and sleep apnea. This also includes defining the differences between them. So, let's get into it.
Causes of Snoring
When we sleep, basically every part of our bodies relax. This includes specific internal tissues, like the ones in and around your neck. They can become too narrow if they relax too much or have other factors narrowing them. They restrict the airway at that point, making it harder for air to pass through. This leads to the tissues being vibrated by the air, causing the growling sound associated with snoring.
Other Factors Leading to Snoring
Several things may cause the narrowing of the airway, which leads to snoring. It could be enlarged tonsils or an enlarged uvula. It may be caused by a deviated septum when the wall between your nostrils is not lined up correctly. Those are some of the more serious cases that could require additional medical attention. Snoring could also be caused by more fundamental reasons, like nasal congestion and drinking alcohol not long before bed.
Relationship between Snoring and Sleep Apnea
However, another cause of snoring could be a bit more serious. That would be sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing multiple times throughout the night. There are three kinds of disorders. The first is obstructive sleep apnea, caused by similar snoring issues, the throat muscles relaxing almost too much. The second kind is central sleep apnea. This is caused by your brain not sending the correct signals to the muscles involved in breathing. The final version is complex sleep apnea syndrome. It is when someone is dealing with central and obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Risks
There are several different symptoms of these conditions. Many overlap, making it hard to tell which form of sleep apnea you have. Some of the more common ones include difficulty breathing while sleeping, waking up with a dry mouth, headache, insomnia, and irritability. Of course, there is another very common symptom: loud snoring. Several different potential factors can play into whether or not you develop sleep apnea. They can include weight, neck size, gender (men are more likely to develop it than women), age, and family history. It's important to know that untreated sleep apnea can lead to more serious health problems, such as high blood pressure, stroke, and other heart-related issues.
Consulting a Doctor and Sleep Study
Sleep apnea is potentially serious and should be treated as quickly as possible. If you or your bed partner have noticed any of these symptoms, it's time to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Treatment can not only ease the symptoms, but treatment may also prevent the potential heart problems associated with the condition.
Treatment Options for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
The first thing that you are going to want to do is to talk to your doctor. They will likely refer you to a sleep specialist if it is more than snoring. This specialist can help you decide if you are dealing with basic snoring or if your snoring is a sign of sleep apnea. Once that is decided, you can determine the best way forward together.
Devices to Aid with Snoring
For many, they are snoring for normal, innocuous reasons. At that point, you will be faced with several different potential solutions. However, there is one that could especially help. Zyppah is a mouthguard that could help keep you from snoring. With its simple design, you can stop snoring and support those you love to sleep better at night. The patented tongue is elastic in our Zyppah mouthguard may help keep your language from getting in the way of your airway, lessening the amount you snore.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
If it does turn out that you have sleep apnea, there are several different treatments that your doctor may go over with you. This may include surgeries or weight loss plans, among some milder treatments. However, that does not mean that Zyppah cannot help. While Zyppah is not designed to treat sleep apnea, it could still help those with the condition minimize snoring.
Check Out Zyppah!
Check out our shop page if you are interested in what Zyppah offers. There you will find our original Zyppah mouthguard in various colors and styles. A 90-day money-back guarantee backs all of our Zyppahs. Give the Zyppah a try. If you are not satisfied, then send it back! But we think you and your loved ones will be pleased with the result.
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