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Snoring is a common sleep-related problem that affects millions of people across age groups. It is characterised by involuntary noises made while sleeping due to the vibration of relaxed tissues in the throat when air passes through them. The sound may differ for everyone, such as snorting, grunting, whistling, and loud breathing. Most people are unaware of the problem until their partners or family members inform them.

While people overlook snoring as normal, it can be a sign of an underlying problem. It should not be brushed aside by cracking jokes about the condition. If it happens once in a while, it can be considered normal. However, if it happens every night and is affecting your sleep quality, it is necessary to get a sleep consultation. Let us throw some light on whether snoring is normal or a concerning condition. It can help individuals understand their sleep health better.

Is Snoring Normal or Harmful?

Almost everyone snores at some point in their lives due to nasal congestion or any other problem. However, if it is frequent, overly loud and impacts sleep, it becomes a matter of concern. It is vital to understand that chronic snoring does not imply sleep apnea. The individual must take a test for sleep to get diagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that disrupts sleep because of interrupted breathing caused due to reduced airflow because of the obstruction caused by relaxed throat muscles.

It leads to the decline of oxygen level, making the brain send neural signals to breathe with increased force to open up the airways. OSA is a serious health condition that increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. It can be effectively diagnosed by reputed sleep doctors in Gold Coast and treated with the help of CPAP/EPAP therapy, MAS and positional therapy.

Common Reasons for Snoring

Snoring can occur because of various reasons that relax the muscles in the throat, tongue and soft palate, which partially obstruct the airways. The reasons can be:

Sinus or Nasal Congestion

Cough, cold, and congestion are common during changing seasons. The sinus is also responsible for snoring because it makes the person breathe through the mouth due to nasal congestion.

Physiological Issue

Snoring can also result from body-related issues, such as obesity. People who are overweight tend to have extra tissues at the back of their throats that constrict the airway.

Excessive Alcohol Intake

If an individual consumes a lot of alcohol right before sleeping, it can cause snoring because the throat muscles become relaxed.

Old Age

With age, the throat and tongue muscles weaken, leading to snoring.

Sleeping on Your Back

People who sleep on their backs can suffer from snoring because it causes the tongue and soft palate to collapse beside the back of the throat, leading to obstruction of the airways.

Factors That Increase the Risk of Snoring

Certain individuals are more susceptible to snoring because of their lifestyle habits and physiological conditions. These include hereditary OSA, deviated septum, large tonsils or adenoids, and being overweight. In addition, men are more likely to snore or develop sleep apnea than women. It is essential to identify the root cause of snoring by booking a sleep consultation. Expert sleep scientists and practitioners at Rise Sleep Robina recommend at-home sleep study tests that can help in correct diagnosis and treatment.

When to Seek Medical Help for Snoring?

Snoring does not require medical intervention unless other concerning symptoms accompany it. These include breathing pauses while sleeping and waking up gasping, morning headaches, exhaustion during the day, drowsiness, night sweats, irritability and mood swings, and a lack of focus. Sleep disruption caused by gasping and loud snoring several times at night is an indication of an underlying problem that must be examined at sleep clinics in Gold Coast for appropriate diagnosis. Children can also snore at night because of nasal congestion or enlarged tonsils. Parents must consult their paediatricians for treatment.

Treatments for Snoring

Snoring is not a life-threatening problem and can be treated by making lifestyle adjustments. After the doctor identifies the cause of the problem, they will recommend the best treatment. Some of these include losing weight to maintain a healthy body mass index, avoiding alcohol before going to sleep, maintaining a fixed sleeping schedule of at least 7 hours, following the best sleeping posture and treating nasal congestion to keep the airways unobstructed.

Individuals who snore because of OSA must undergo continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or oral appliance therapy (MAS). These involve wearing masks and dental mouthpieces to keep the airways open while sleeping. Sleep doctors at Rise Sleep Health Robina ensure that the devices fit comfortably and are adjusted effectively to offer the best results.

Wrapping Up

Relaxed sleep is essential to stay energised and fit. If your sleep is getting disturbed by snoring, you must visit a sleep doctor to find its cause. The information above can help you stay vigilant and quickly identify sleep-related issues.

CPAP is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, a therapy used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The sleep disorder is characterised by breathing pauses because of airway blockage caused by relaxed throat muscles while sleeping. It impacts the sleep quality of the individual since they have to wake up several times gasping at night. It can cause various other problems like night sweats, unusual breathing, snoring, headaches, fatigue, mood changes, etc. Individuals diagnosed with OSA are advised CPAP therapy by sleep doctors in Gold Coast.

The treatment involves using CPAP machines to supply a continuous flow of pressurised air through a mask worn by the individual while sleeping. It prevents the obstruction of the airways and offers a good night’s sleep without interruptions. It improves sleep quality and overall health of the individual. Sleep doctors prescribe CPAP therapy after analysing the results of a sleep test conducted for diagnosing OSA. Let us help you understand how CPAP machines work and can help individuals suffering from sleep-related disorders.

Understanding the CPAP Machine

A CPAP machine is a medical device used for treating sleep apnoea. It supplies consistent air through a mask that covers the mouth and nose. The mask stays positioned while sleeping with the help of straps, and it’s connected to the machine’s motor with a tube. The motor is responsible for delivering air into the tube. It consists of an air filter that ensures the air is purified and does not harm the individual due to contamination. The machine maintains a constant flow of pressurised air that allows normal breathing while sleeping to reduce the impact of sleep apnea. It ensures optimum oxygen levels in the lungs without any obstructions that prevent forceful breathing or gasping.

How Do CPAP Machines Work?

The CPAP machines have a timed pressure setting to adjust the airflow. It delivers a low level of air pressure when the person is falling asleep and slowly increases it as they transition into deep sleep. The machine collects the air in the room, filters it to remove pollutants and pressurises it before supplying the air to the tube connected to the mask. The pressurised airflow going into the mouth ensures the tongue and soft palate do not collapse against the back of the throat to cause obstructions. It helps to maintain normal breathing and helps the person suffering from OSA to sleep peacefully through the night. It can be used at home while sleeping or even taken along on vacations.

Types of CPAP Machines

Different types of CPAP machines are identified by the varieties of masks they use for the therapy. Individuals must consult a trusted sleep doctor in Gold Coast to identify the best type. Usually, the type of machine to be used depends on the comfort level of the wearer. The common types include:

Nasal Mask

It is a highly recommended CPAP machine for those who keep tossing around while sleeping. These are worn over the nose for delivering high-pressure air.

Full Mask

This machine has a mask that covers both the nose and the mouth and is prescribed to patients who breathe through their mouths or have nasal congestion.

Nasal Pillow Mask

The CPAP machine with a mask that covers only the nostrils is known as a nasal pillow mask device. It can include prongs that go into the nostrils for a snug fit and consistent airflow.

Uses of CPAP Machines

CPAP therapy is prescribed by Rise Sleep Health Robina doctors for treating mild to severe OSA. The benefits of using this device are:

• Better and uninterrupted sleep at night
• Minimal snoring
• Optimum energy due to prevention of disrupted sleep
• Reduced risk of high blood pressure and heart problems
• Increased insulin sensitivity that prevents type 2 diabetes
• Improved focus, memory and concentration
• Enhanced mood and better social life

Factors to Consider When Using CPAP Machines

The advanced CPAP support offered by practitioners at Rise Sleep Health Robina is a comprehensive package that includes monitoring of device usage and mask adjustment checks to ensure maximum comfort. However, individuals using CPAP machines without support must be careful. They must identify the air pressure setting that suits their condition and use a machine that has a comfortable mask. It must fit snugly over the mouth or nose and supply the required airflow.

The airways of the mask must be sealed firmly to avoid leaking and a consistent flow of pressurised air. The settings must be adjusted to deliver a low flow initially and slowly increase the level to maintain sleeping comfort. If the wearer feels uncomfortable or has a stuffy nose, they must visit a Gold Coast sleep clinic to adjust the device to their comfort levels and prevent leaking. If not used correctly, the mask can cause redness and irritation. Thus, it is best to get the required support.

Wrapping Up

CPAP machines are the most common OSA treatment devices. They must be used for a consistent period to get the best results. It may seem challenging to wear a mask at night, but it can help improve sleep quality and health of the individual effectively.

Sleep apnea is a sleep-related disorder affecting an individual’s sleep quality and life. Around 5% of Australians suffer from this problem, which is more commonly found in older men. Most of the cases go undiagnosed because of the lack of awareness about this condition. However, it should not be overlooked or neglected because severe cases can lead to serious health issues like heart troubles, strokes, diabetes and high blood pressure.

In simple terms, sleep apnea can be described as breaks in breathing while sleeping that make the person wake up gasping for air. It disrupts their restful time at night and affects their daytime, too. Thus, getting a sleep consultation for a correct diagnosis is best if there are any sleep-related troubles. Let us help you increase your understanding of sleep apnoea by shedding light on its causes, symptoms and treatment. It can help detect the problem at the earliest.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is interruptions in breathing while sleeping due to the blockage of the airways or the brain failing to control breathing. The interruptions occur several times at night, making the person lose sleep and feel exhausted during the day. Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, but everyone who snores does not have a sleeping disorder. Snoring can also occur because of nasal congestion, large tonsils or sleeping on the back. It is vital to opt for a test for sleep to diagnose sleep apnea and get a sleep consultation for effective treatment.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnoea can be of the following three types:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA)

It is the most common type of sleeping disorder that occurs when the throat muscles are relaxed and obstruct the airway. It can make the individual stop breathing for ten seconds and leads to gasping or restlessness while sleeping.

Central Sleep Apnea(CSA)

The second type of sleep apnea, known as central sleep apnea (CSA), happens when the brain doesn’t send the right signals to the chest muscles that are responsible for breathing. It is common in men who are 60 or older who have a heart or neurological condition.

Complex Sleep Apnea

The third form of sleep apnea is known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea. It is a condition when an individual has both OSA and CSA or when a person with OSA develops CSA during the treatment. A test for sleep can help get the correct diagnosis in this case.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Various factors can contribute to the development of sleep apnea in individuals, such as:

• Obesity leads to the accumulation of fat around the upper airway that restricts breathing
• A narrow throat or enlarged tonsils and adenoids can also obstruct the airways in children
• Older men are more susceptible to this sleep-related disorder
• Many people develop sleep apnea because of genetics and family history
• Excessive alcohol consumption before going to bed can increase the risk of sleep apnea because it relaxes the throat muscles
• Individuals suffering from heart troubles or those who have survived a stroke are more likely to develop sleep apnea

Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnoea can be detected by identifying the common symptoms listed below:

• Paused breathing for a few seconds while sleeping
• Waking up gasping for breath or feeling choked at night
• Snoring and disturbed sleep
• Extreme tiredness and sleepiness during the day
• Headaches in the morning
• Sudden mood swings and increased irritability
• A lack of focus and concentration at work

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be diagnosed by expert sleep doctors in Gold Coast with the help of a sleep study test that can be performed at home without the supervision of a sleep scientist. They analyse the results of the test and recommend the following treatments, depending on the condition of the individual:

CPAP Therapy

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is considered most effective for treating moderate to severe OSA. It involves using a CPAP machine that collects air in the room, filters it and pressurises it to be delivered to the person through a tube connected to a mask. It keeps the airways open while sleeping to reduce the impact of OSA and improve sleep quality.

Positional Therapy

Sleep doctors recommend positional therapy to improve sleeping posture and prevent mild sleep apnea. It ensures the individual does not sleep on the back by using devices, pillows or alarms.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy involves the use of mandibular advancement splints or devices (MAS). These devices help to move the lower jaw forward to prevent the tongue and soft tissues from obstructing the airways.

Wrapping Up

Sleep apnea affects a large number of people, with every one in ten Australians suffering from this condition. However, it often goes undiagnosed. Thus, gathering all the information about this sleeping disorder is essential to stay observant.