Snoring is a symptom highly associated with sleep apnea — if you deal with a sleep breathing disorder, it is often connected to the relaxed tissues that vibrate as you breathe. However, you may have noticed you have sleep apnea symptoms, but you do not snore. So, can you have sleep apnea without snoring?
How Sleep Apnea & Snoring are Connected
Sleep apnea, a type of sleep-disordered breathing, affects many individuals. There are three common kinds of sleep apnea disorder: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea.
Among the different types, obstructive sleep apnea is mostly connected with snoring. A person who has obstructive sleep apnea will experience a blocked airway due to relaxed throat muscles, sometimes even the tongue. When air passes by the slight blockage, it causes vibration in the tissues, which we know as snoring. Then, the airway blocks completely, resulting in disordered breathing while you sleep. Hence, snoring is usually associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
The other types of sleep apnea include central sleep apnea, which leads to pauses in breathing because the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles responsible for controlling your breathing. In complex sleep apnea, also known as treatment-emergent sleep apnea, symptoms of both central and obstructive sleep apnea occur. Therefore, it is not always necessary for snoring to appear as a sleep apnea symptom.
Is it Possible to Have Sleep Apnea Without Snoring?
Snoring may be one of the prominent and leading sleep apnea symptoms, but not everyone who has this condition snores. In short, you can have sleep apnea without snoring. If you have central sleep apnea, snoring is usually not an indicator since it is associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, you do not always need to snore if you have sleep apnea. In central sleep apnea, your body will attempt not to breathe for a small period during sleep, which does not result in snoring.
You can visit a sleep apnea specialist for a proper diagnosis; they will suggest a suitable treatment for your condition.
Other Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Snoring might be the leading sign of sleep apnea, but it is not the only symptom. Hence, you may wake up gasping for breath or like you are choking, which might mean your breathing was stopped for some time. Moreover, daytime drowsiness is another sign that you may be suffering from a sleep-breathing disorder. And, when you wake up, you will have headaches, dry mouth, and sore throat. These are not all the symptoms of sleep apnea; you should visit your healthcare provider if you suspect you have sleep apnea.
Treatment Options
If you have sleep apnea, your doctor might suggest one of the following treatments, depending on your condition:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ( CPAP)
- Oral Appliance Therapy
- Solea Sleep
- Other PAP Devices
Takeaway
Yes, you can have sleep apnea without snoring, although it is the leading symptom of this condition. Obstructive sleep apnea is usually associated with snoring, while people with central sleep apnea do not snore. At Gateway Family Dentistry, we care about your overall well-being. So, without further ado, dial 661-829-7905 to get in touch with our team. You can also visit us at 13029 Stockdale Hwy, # 100, Bakersfield, CA 93314.