Is it possible to have sleep apnea without snoring

Another study noticed that snoring intensifies as sleep apnea becomes more severe. Sleep apnea occurs when the tissues in your throat relax and block your airway, thereby restricting breathing and causing a sleep apnea event. A sleep apnea event is often followed by gasping for air or choking.

If you have sleep apnea, only a sleep study can diagnose the disorder. The good news is that the negative effects of sleep apnea can be reversed with treatment. This type of apnea has to do with the brain signals themselves — not with an obstruction in the throat.

In fact, with obstructive sleep apnea, the chest will still rise and fall, as if breathing is taking place — despite the fact that no air is entering or leaving the airway.

Now, obstructive sleep apnea is a bit different. According to Dr. Robert L. So, it is possible to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea without snoring — but it is pretty rare. But, if you tend to wake up with feelings of excessive daytime fatigue or drowsiness anyway, you might want to ask someone to keep an eye on you one night while you sleep.

These apps usually work by recording you at night and detecting loud sounds. Prescribe an at-home sleep test.

An at-home test involves using a small monitoring device to measure your heart rate, airflow, and breathing patterns. Oral appliances. These are simple, removable devices that are similar to bite guards used for teeth grinding.

Oral appliances for sleep apnea hold the jaw or tongue in place to prevent them from obstructing the airways. PAP machines. Positive airway pressure PAP devices can be used at night to promote airflow with the help of a special mask. PAP devices can be effective, but bulky and uncomfortable for some people to wear. Some patients find relief by sleeping only on their sides, losing body fat, and exercising more. Sometimes, sleep apnea can be caused by inflammation in the tissue in the back of the throat or by a deviated septum.

Share on facebook. There is a strong link between sleep apnea and hypertension elevated blood pressure and heart arrhythmias disorders of irregular heartbeat. Sleep apnea is also a risk factor for stroke and can affect insulin resistance, leading to diabetes. The potentially fatal consequences of sleep apnea, such as heart disease, generally occur over time. When someone with sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep, the body senses it and steps in. The risk of death also depends on the severity of sleep apnea.

A much less common type is called central sleep apnea, when the airway is open, but the brain does not send a signal to breathe. This type is sometimes seen in people with advanced heart disease or neurological disorders, or those taking narcotic medications. Often, it consists of a characteristic rhythmic pattern of pauses in breathing or slow breathing followed by periods of rapid breathing.

Most people with sleep apnea snore, but not everyone does. Also, you may snore and not know it, especially if your bed partner is a heavy sleeper or you sleep alone.