Does your partner complain about your snoring? Then you might want to read this!

While there are many reasons why people may occasionally snore, if you find that your partner is complaining more often than not about your ferocious snoring then you may not want to ignore these complaints. In fact, chronic and loud snoring could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a very common sleep disorder that requires long-term care. Find out more about this condition and when you might want to see our Columbia, SC, sleep doctor Dr. Richard Bogan for an evaluation.

What is my snoring trying to tell me?

There are many reasons why people snore. Most of the time it’s caused by a narrowing of the airways either in the nose or the throat while you are sleeping. In some situations it may be an acute issue such as the common cold or a respiratory infection; however, snoring can sometimes be the result of blocked airflow caused by sleep apnea.

How do I know that I have sleep apnea?

While snoring doesn’t necessarily mean you have sleep apnea, the majority of patients with sleep apnea are chronic and loud snorers. If you snore most nights then it’s a good idea to schedule a sleep consultation with one sleep doctor in Columbia, SC, just to rule out sleep apnea.

Besides snoring, other symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Extreme daytime exhaustion
  • Increased irritability
  • “Brain fog”, poor memory or trouble concentrating
  • Mood swings
  • Increased accidents
  • Falling asleep during the day or nodding off
  • Headaches in the morning

Are you dealing with at least three of these symptoms? If so, then sleep apnea might be the culprit.

What happens if I don’t treat sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea will not go away by itself and it will continue to greatly impact the quality of your sleep unless you treat it. Not only that, but untreated sleep apnea can also cause serious health problems. In fact, sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, asthma, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke. To reduce your risk of these life-threatening and chronic health problems, it’s important that you get your sleep apnea under control.

Fortunately, CPAP therapy provides many of our patients with the relief they need from their symptoms. This therapy is used every night while you are asleep and it helps keep airways open throughout the night. Most patients notice better quality sleep after just a couple of days of using CPAP therapy.

Here at Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, we believe everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. If snoring or other issues are keeping you from the quality sleep you require then it’s time you talked to our sleep doctor. Catching those ZZZ’s shouldn’t be difficult; we can help.