I Snore. Do I Definitely Have OSA?

There are two main kinds of snoring: primary snoring and snoring that indicates OSA. Everyone who snores has some level of upper airway obstruction, which causes the sounds of snoring, but those with primary snoring (without OSA) have an incomplete obstruction. Primary snoring is more gentle, rhythmic, and may sound more like noisy breathing than anything else. However, many snorers have complete obstructions of 10 seconds or longer, up to hundreds of times a night, causing gasps and snorts as they try to take a breath during sleep. This kind of snoring can disturb partners and can be heard in other rooms, and usually indicates the presence of OSA.

The best way to tell the difference is through a polysomnogram, or sleep study. A sleep study on patients who snore but don’t have OSA will reveal normal sleep patterns and normal respiratory patterns, without abrupt arousals or lowered oxygen levels in the blood at any time. Those with OSA will show a very different picture. People with OSA have very poor sleep quality, with many sleep cessations and lowered oxygen levels during the night, even though they may not recall any particular problems the next morning.

Since the risks related to OSA are so serious, it is very important that people who snore get screened for sleep apnea. Diagnosis is simple and OSA can be effectively treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure as well as other techniques. There are more and more options for getting tested for OSA, including home sleeping tests as well as visiting a sleep lab. The Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute  is a leader in sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment and offers the latest in home sleep testing and sleep lab evaluations.

Dr. Avi, Director of the Institute says, “If you get tested and it turns out you only have primary snoring, there are also effective techniques to help you get a better night’s sleep. So no matter what the result, it’s worth your time.”