Your partner says you snore so much so and so often that he or she is having a hard time sleeping well. You wake up tired and unable to get through the day without a nap. Even though you are getting eight hours of sleep a night, it doesn’t seem to be enough. You may have sleep apnea. If you believe you have this condition or you think your loved one does, it pays to contact our ENT doctor for sleep apnea help. You may be able to improve your quality of life significantly by making this appointment.
Snoring? What Causes It?
The cause of snoring can differ slightly from one person to the next. However, it always comes back to some level of obstruction in the airway that limits the easy flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and the nose. The tongue and the upper portion of the throat come together at this location and meet at the soft palate and uvula. This portion of the airway is collapsible, which means that when airway flow is cut off, there is vibration of these structures, which is what causes the snoring noise your loved ones hear.
What Is The Cause of Snoring?
Your ENT doctor will talk to you about the symptoms you have. In most cases, the process of determining if you have sleep apnea, which is defined as any type of obstruction in the airway during sleep, and then determine the best treatment for you. This may be brought on because of:
- Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue
- Excessive bulkiness in the airway, especially in the throat
- An abnormally structured long soft palate and uvula
- Obstructed nasal passageways
Why should you consider getting help for snoring? Though many people don’t realize it, there is a direct connection with sleep apnea and heart health. And, snoring can lead to the increased risk of a blood clot traveling to the brain. There is a health risk associated with severe sleep apnea. That’s because your airway is closed off for a short period of time while you sleep, just long enough for your brain to wake up enough to adjust. That’s what’s impacting your sleep quality.
There is help. Call our Manhattan, New York ENT at 212-867-4813 to schedule a consultation to discuss your sleep apnea symptoms.
