Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly and frequently and may wake up feeling tired and groggy.
Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Choking or gasping during sleep
- Pauses in breathing
- Insomnia
- Daytime fatigue
- Morning headache
- Memory or learning problems
- Difficulty paying attention
- Irritability
- Depression
- Waking up frequently to urinate
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see a healthcare professional, especially if you snore loudly, frequently, and wake up feeling groggy.
A sleep study, called polysomnography, can help diagnose sleep apnea. The test records your brain waves, eye movements, heart rate, and breathing patterns during a night's sleep. This test will help determine the severity of the sleep apnea and the appropriate treatment.
Treatment for sleep apnea can include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sleeping on your side, or using a device such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which delivers air pressure through a mask to help keep your airway open.
It's important to take sleep apnea seriously as it can lead to other health problems such as hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and diabetes.
Source: Vivacare
Last updated : 1/27/2023