Don’t let snoring get in the way of your healthy relationship or a good night’s sleep! While snoring can be frustrating and annoying for your partner to continually deal with, it is also frustrating to never feel like you are getting a full night’s rest due to your snoring and inconsistent wake-ups.

Most people snore on occasion, and normally, it’s nothing to worry about. Snoring is simply the sound that is produced when the tissues in your throat vibrate due to air having difficulty moving freely in your nose and throat.

When snoring is a chronic problem that is accompanied by more serious symptoms, though, it is important to be evaluated to make sure that you aren’t suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep health condition. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Easley breaks down the different aspects of snoring below.

What Causes Snoring?

People who snore have extra “floppy” throat and nasal tissue in the backs of their throats that make them more prone to vibrate while they sleep. In addition to having that extra tissue, things like smoking, being overweight, drinking alcohol right before bed and having poor sleep posture can all contribute to that unpleasant rattling sound.

Snoring may also be indicative of a more serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where your breathing is disrupted while you are sleeping. Either you stop breathing completely for brief periods of time or your breathing becomes sporadic, both of which can be dangerous for you. If you have some of the symptoms below along with snoring, it is important to be seen by a medical professional for a sleep study.

Signs of Sleep Apnea

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Memory or attention problems
• Loud snoring that continually wakes others in your home
• Gasping or choking yourself awake

What Happens During a Sleep Study?

If you have any of the above symptoms, a sleep study may be a good course of action to investigate further. You can either go to a sleep lab or have an at-home test done, which involves someone monitoring your sleep to watch for breathing pauses, oxygen levels and your heart rate.

All of the data is compiled and evaluated to determine whether you are suffering from a sleep disorder. You may be fitted for a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine or given some advice on some lifestyle changes to reduce your snoring frequency and volume.

Reduce Your Snoring Risk

• Don’t sleep on your back.
  
• Avoid alcohol right before bed.
• Lose excess weight.
• Change your pillow and wash your sheets often.

Make your sleep health a priority! If you are concerned with the frequency of your snoring, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Easley.