Sometimes, snoring is just snoring. Almost everyone snores occasionally, and as many as 44% of people snore on a regular basis. But snoring that is loud, frequent and accompanied by gasping, choking, or pauses in breathing may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can be a very dangerous condition if left untreated. If you are experiencing snoring, don’t ignore it! Since most symptoms of OSA happen during sleep, ask your partner or roommate about your snoring – if it’s loud or if they’ve noticed gasps or pauses in your breathing, you need to take action.
NOTE Another much rarer condition, Central Sleep Apnea, may also inhibit breathing during sleep, but it does not occur because of an upper airway obstruction, but rather a neurological condition. The brain and nervous system do not consistently send a signal to breathe – hence the individual stops breathing. Insomnia, waking up short of breath or feeling panicky and daytime tiredness are possible symptoms, although in some cases none are present. HorizonAire experts can help assess and advise if you suspect you have Central Sleep Apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the tissue around the upper airway narrows, causing reduced and restricted breathing or even a stoppage in breathing. This interrupted breathing results in a drop in blood oxygen levels, partial awakenings to take a recovery breath and fragmented sleep overall.
A person with Obstructive Sleep Apnea will repeat the pattern of airway obstruction and partial awakenings tens to even hundreds of times over the course of a night’s sleep!
You may awake with no energy and feel sleepy during various times throughout the day. You may fall asleep while reading, watching TV or even driving!
You may wake up with a headache, usually felt on both sides of the front of your head, lasting up to several hours.
You may find it difficult to focus on work or when doing other tasks.
Untreated Sleep Apnea is a very serious matter, and in extreme cases, can even be fatal if left undiagnosed over time. Some of the many complications connected to sleep apnea include:
Click on the two questionnaires shown here to help you determine if you need to take a sleep study. If your results indicate that you are at risk for OSA, call HorizonAire to now to arrange a sleep study.
A sleep study is the definitive way to assess your snoring and determine if you have Sleep Apnea. Sleep studies at HorizonAire are:
Our sleep study appointment is just 30 minutes long with a quick return visit the next day — and there’s absolutely no charge. You’ll get your study results in 2-3 weeks and next steps will be discussed.
Watch a video overview of our sleep study equipment.
