Everybody snores sometimes, but for some individuals, it may become a persistent issue. It may sometimes also be a sign of a severe medical condition. Additionally, it causes significant disturbance to sleeping partners.
Snoring can be reduced with lifestyle modifications, including weight loss, abstaining from alcohol before bedtime, or sleeping on your side.
Surgery and medical devices such as CPAP machines are also available to help reduce disruptive snoring. In this handy guide, ApriaDirect looks at snoring vs sleep apnea. Finally, a peaceful night's sleep is within your reach. Keep reading to learn how CPAP therapy might help you stop snoring with CPAP and find the right solution for you and your bed partner.
Causes Of Snoring
Several factors can contribute to snoring, including mouth and sinus structure, alcohol usage, allergies, the common cold, and excess body fat, can contribute to nightly bouts of snoring. The palate of the mouth, tongue, and throat all relax as you drift from light into deeper stages of sleep. Snoring is caused by a partial collapse of the airway and occurs when the soft tissues of the throat and mouth vibrate against one another while breathing.
If your snoring makes it difficult for your airway to remain open, causing significant disruption in your breathing during the night, then your snoring may be a result of sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea and snoring
Snoring and sleep apnea often go hand in hand.
Sleep apnea happens when your inability to breathe while sleeping becomes severe enough to affect your general health. Not receiving enough oxygen when sleeping can cause drowsiness throughout the day. You may also have problems focusing and be less productive.
Sleep apnea may potentially raise your risk of serious health problems like a stroke, high blood pressure, or heart attacks.
Snoring with CPAP Machines
Does a CPAP machine stop snoring? CPAP machines can stop snoring by creating continuous positive air pressure that keeps your muscles from collapsing. This minimizes the "snore" noise that occurs when the soft tissues of your throat, mouth, and neck partially cover your airway.
Additionally, the potential risk of sleep apnea-related health conditions is mitigated with the use of CPAP equipment. Understanding the origin or cause of your snoring and finding a treatment solution that helps you is important for your long-term health.
CPAP and Snoring Sleep Therapy Tips
Using a CPAP machine can initially seem overwhelming. Like anything new, it takes practice to become accustomed to it. Try wearing your mask before bedtime and while you relax to 'desensitize' yourself.
Ensure that you wear your CPAP mask every time you sleep. This might be the most important aspect of adapting to your new CPAP routine. In medical terminology, this is referred to as "patient compliance". Avoid inconsistencies, do not use your equipment one night and then not the next. Effective treatment is only achieved by wearing it every night as well as during naps. To form a routine, you can equip your mask as soon as you complete another nighttime activity, like brushing your teeth.
Choosing the right CPAP mask is crucial for adhering to CPAP compliance.
Don't forget about the CPAP machine's features for optimized comfort.
Setting a humidifier will assist with dry mouth and nose.
Increase and decrease moisture levels according to your comfort levels.
The RAMP feature will reduce the pressure to a lower level and enable it to gradually build up to your maximum recommended pressure over time, allowing you to fall asleep.
Depending on the method of CPAP treatment and machine manufacturer, it may provide additional comfort with the Flex feature for when you inhale, exhale, or both.
Do your best to breathe naturally. People often make an extra effort to control their breathing when they first start using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. However, this may cause you to feel panicked or claustrophobic and inhibit CPAP compliance. Remember to take deep breaths and relax.
Still Snoring With CPAP?
Does a CPAP machine stop snoring? Because CPAP therapy works by delivering steady air pressure, snoring with CPAP equipment is considered unusual. You should consult your sleep specialist if you continue to snore with a CPAP machine even after wearing your CPAP mask for a few days. Talk to them about the make and model of your device and mask to ensure maximum comfort. Never change your CPAP settings without consulting your specialist.
Reasons For Snoring with CPAP Therapy:
Incorrect Pressure: CPAP pressure may be insufficient, meaning it does not affect the airways. If pressure is too high, it can cause leaks. Never adjust your pressure settings without input from your healthcare provider.
Ill-Fitting Mask: If a mask doesn't fit correctly, there will be openings for air to escape at the mouth and nose.
Incorrect Mask: A reduction in carbon dioxide and blood flow results from mouth breathing. If you breathe through your mouth, use a full-face mask if possible.
Sleep Position: The device's performance might be impacted by your sleep position. Sleeping on your back can worsen the airway collapse that causes snoring. Instead, you can adjust your sleeping position and choose a mask suited for a side sleeping position.
CPAP Alternatives For Snoring
Most people who breathe through the mouth snore. If you use your mouth for breathing while using a CPAP machine, you may awaken with a dry nose and throat. Many people stop using CPAP because of this unpleasant side effect.
Alternatives to CPAP therapy for relieving mouth breathing include the use of a nasal decongestant, antihistamine, or saline solution before bedtime; the use of a pillow to elevate the head during sleep; the consideration of surgical correction of a deviated septum or other nasal anatomical abnormalities.
Multiple variables, including nasal and oral anatomy, alcohol consumption, allergies, the common cold, and excess body fat, might contribute to nighttime snoring. You can make several lifestyle adjustments to address the problem, such as:
Maintain Weight: The obstructions that lead to snoring can be made worse by the accumulation of extra tissue in the throat and neck. Losing weight has shown an improvement in sleep quality by reducing the severity of sleep apnea and snoring.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption: Having a few drinks affects your central nervous system, and if you have one too many just before bed, your throat muscles may relax more than usual, which increases the chances of snoring.
Reduce Smoking: Smokers often show a tendency to snore more. When you stop smoking, you won't just improve your health in many other ways, but you will also be less likely to snore.
Address Congestion: A runny nose, whether from allergies or a cold, may make snoring much worse. You will decrease the chances of snoring by taking a decongestant before bed since it will assist you in breathing through your nose instead of the mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Snoring
How to sleep when someone is snoring?
A snoring bed partner can make for a disruptive night's sleep. Aside from sleeping in another room, there are some things you can try.
Distract your ears with meditative music or white noise.
Try sleeping with foam earplugs or sleep headphones.
Buy an anti-snoring pillow. Ergonomically shaped to prop up the head and neck, anti-snoring pillows are proven to reduce snoring and open airways.
Buy a sleep aid. There are plenty of snoring aids on the market, both experimental and scientifically proven to reduce snoring.
In cases of severe snoring, it's possible your partner might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Consulting a healthcare professional with these concerns and obtaining a sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment plan will significantly improve the quality of their health and your sleep.
What does snoring with sleep apnea sound like?
Sleep apnea snoring is often distinguished by loud snoring followed by intervals of quietness during which breathing pauses. This pause in breathing eventually causes the patient to awaken suddenly, usually accompanied by loud snorting or gasping sound.
What is the root cause of sleep apnea?
OSA occurs when the muscles that usually keep your tongue and soft palate in place momentarily weaken during sleep. Involuntary relaxation of these muscles results in a temporary pause in breathing due to a narrowing or complete closure of the airway. Several contributing health, lifestyle, and physical factors can increase the risk of developing apnea. For more information, read our comprehensive sleep apnea guide.
Can you snore and not have sleep apnea?
When comparing snoring vs. sleep apnea, snoring may be an independent issue from sleep apnea; they are not necessarily related. Primary snoring, or snoring that is not associated with sleep apnea, can be caused by various factors such as age, physical attributes, lifestyle choices, and other medical conditions unrelated to sleep apnea.
Finally, A Peaceful Night's Sleep. Stop Snoring And Address OSA With ApriaDirect
Snoring can be a disruptive condition; it can significantly affect the quality of life and sleep for both the snorer and their sleeping partner. Furthermore, it can indicate OSA, which can have severe health implications. ApriaDirect is passionate about raising awareness about this often misunderstood and treatable condition. We have curated a selection of the highest quality medical equipment based on efficacy and affordability. Is snoring keeping you up at night? Try one of our solutions to prevent snoring below:
The Bongo Rx is a reusable, FDA-cleared EPAP device designed to treat mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and help reduce snoring. This small, portable solution works by creating pressure during exhalation to keep the airway open, allowing for more natural breathing during sleep. It’s easy to use, requires no machine or power, and can be a convenient alternative for those waiting for CPAP devices or seeking a travel-friendly option. The Bongo Rx is a versatile option for anyone experiencing snoring or sleep apnea, and it's ideal for home or on-the-go therapy.
The groundbreaking myTAP Oral Appliance is now available online with ApriaDirect.
Depending on the severity of the diagnosis, the myTAP is a cost-effective tool that may be seen as a temporary or potentially permanent option for treating snoring and sleep apnea. This device is based on the TAP™ oral appliance, which has been scientifically proven to alleviate snoring, OSA, and, in certain circumstances, moderate to severe sleep apnea. The myTAP works by extending and stabilizing the lower jaw allowing, preventing the soft tissues of the neck and tongue from collapsing into the airway when sleeping, allowing for maximum oxygen flow.
OptiPillows is a snoring mask kit that has been approved by the FDA. The set comprises headgear, a valve, and three different sizes of nasal cushions (S, M, and L). It's light and comfortable, and no prescription is required. It can be reused and lasts up to a year.
Looking for a sleep apnea treatment solution or CPAP machine for snoring? We have a wide range of CPAP devices and replacement components on offer. Insured? Visit our helpful guide to insurance-covered CPAP equipment.
Looking for something specific? Our helpful experts are on call to assist at (800) 780-1508 between 8:00 am - 10:00 pm EST daily.
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