Snoring has always been the primary sign of someone having sleep apnea, but a lot of people wonder if it’s possible to have sleep apnea even if you don’t snore.
Can you have sleep apnea without snoring? It’s still possible to have sleep apnea even if you don’t snore. Snoring is a common way for the body to react to obstructions in the airways and to low oxygen levels in the system. However, some people’s bodies react differently and may not resort to snoring even when experiencing interruptions in breathing at night.
As you read further, you’ll understand why people snore and what the other symptoms of sleep apnea are, so that you could still be guided in getting yourself diagnosed even if you don’t snore. You’ll also have a better idea of why sleep apnea happens and how to best prevent it.
Why People Snore
Snoring happens when there is an obstruction in the upper airway.
When we sleep, our neck muscles relax, and the tissues around the throat collapse. But there are times when these tissues collapse so far back, partly closing up the airway, making it too narrow for air to pass through seamlessly.
The snoring sound is usually caused by the tissues and muscles vibrating as the air tries to force its way into the little space left in the airways.
Aside from the tissues collapsing, there are also a few other reasons why people snore. Some may have enlarged tonsils due to inflammation. Some may also have structural issues with their nose or their jaw, making the airways smaller than usual.
Snoring may be one of the most common sleeping habits that people complain about. But it is more than just an annoying habit; it’s actually an indicator that there is something wrong with the way your body works. In this case, it is one of the biggest symptoms of sleep apnea.
Other Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
As mentioned earlier, snoring may be the most common symptom of sleep apnea. But just because you don’t snore doesn’t mean you’re free of the condition.
Sleep apnea is characterized by a number of other symptoms. Knowing what these other symptoms are can help you check whether you or someone you know could possibly have sleep apnea despite not snoring.
Here are some of the other major symptoms of sleep apnea that you should watch out for:
- Breathing stops for 10 seconds or more while sleeping, sometimes happening 5 or more times in an hour
- Choking or coughing while sleeping, or gasping for air
- Restless sleep
- Waking up a few times at night with shortness of breath
- Waking up with a sore throat or with dry mouth
- Excessive sleepiness or drowsiness during the day
- Lack of focus and difficulty in paying attention
- Frequent morning headaches
- Decreased sexual interest
- Irritability and sudden mood changes
- Forgetfulness
If you’re also concerned about sleep apnea among your children, these are the most common symptoms:
- Poor attention span
- Difficulty in learning or focusing
- Mouth breathing
- Bedwetting
- Sleepiness during the day
Don’t wait for the person to start snoring before being concerned about sleep apnea. If all these other symptoms are present, consult your doctor immediately.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
Why does sleep apnea happen?
Sleep apnea happens for two reasons, and these to reasons characterize the two major types of sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. It is caused by any blockage or obstruction in the airways, making it difficult for air to seamlessly pass through while you sleep.
The most common form of obstruction in the airways is when the soft tissues collapse against your throat.
You see, our entire body, including the muscles and tissue around our neck and throat, relax when we sleep. But sometimes, these muscles and tissue become over-relaxed, causing them to sag into the airways. This is what commonly happens in the case of people who tire themselves out too much, as well as those who drink alcohol or take sedatives before sleeping.
This is also why sleep apnea is common among people who are overweight. The added deposits of fat around the neck and throat area make the airways narrower. The same thing applies for people who have inflamed tonsils and adenoids, as well as those who suffer from sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.
In some cases, it’s the way your body is structured. Some people have a larger tongue than others, for example.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea, from the name itself, is caused by issues with the brain. Due to lapses in communication between the brain and the respiratory control center, the brain fails to send the signal to breathe.
Basically, in the case of obstructive sleep apnea, you CANNOT breathe properly. In the case of central sleep apnea, you DO NOT even attempt to breathe.
Central sleep apnea can happen in infants, especially to those who were born pre-term. This is because their brains are not fully developed yet.
Pre-term babies who have central sleep apnea could show pauses in breathing for as long as 20 seconds. The good news is, as their brain develops, their central sleep apnea also starts to go away.
Compared to pre-term infants, central sleep apnea is more common in adults aged 65 and above. People this age usually have other health conditions, which can trigger sleep apnea.
Here are some of the common health conditions linked to central sleep apnea:
- Congestive heart failure
- Any condition that causes damage to the brainstem, like stroke, encephalitis and the like
- Kidney failure
- Hypothyroid disease
- Any neurological condition like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and the like
Supporting Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea treatments can vary from therapy to surgery. But these treatments will not be as effective if you do not make the right lifestyle adjustments.
Here are a few lifestyle changes you should make if you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea or suspect that you have the condition:
- Avoid drinking alcohol or taking sedatives.
Remember that in obstructive sleep apnea, the problem starts when the throat and tongue muscles relax too much, causing the surrounding tissues to collapse into the airways. This is something that alcohol and other forms of sedatives contribute to.
As much as possible, do not drink alcohol or take sedatives 4 hours or less before going to bed. This includes sleeping pills, which, although help you sleep right away, may not really give you the restful sleep you need especially if you are at risk of sleep apnea.
- Stop smoking.
We all know the myriad of adverse effects that smoking brings. Well, sleep apnea is yet another negative effect that you can add to the list.
Smoking causes the tissues around your nasal passage and upper airways to become inflamed. All the inflamed tissues become an obstruction to your airways, making it harder for you to breathe.
- Get enough rest.
No matter how busy you are, always leave enough time for rest, especially at night. Failing to do so will mean that you don’t have enough fuel to function well throughout the day, making you doubly or triply tired at night. This causes your muscles to over-relax, leaving the same effect as sedatives or alcohol.
An adult would usually require around 8 hours of sleep for the body to fully recover. Once you’ve had enough sleep, you’ll be able to have enough energy to last you throughout the day.
- Maintain the right weight.
Find out what the ideal weight is for your height. Once you know what it is, make sure you make an effort to maintain this weight by exercising regularly and by eating right.
This is not just about staying fit, it is also about avoiding apnea episodes. When you are overweight, a lot of the excess fats can be deposited around your neck or throat area, making your airways narrower. It can also make your tissues sag even further, leaving more obstruction in the airways.
- Avoid caffeine and heavy meals 2 hours or less before bed.
Caffeine stimulated the body, making it hard for you to really get restful sleep. Eating a heavy meal will also make it harder for you to sleep well, as it forces your body to continue working (your digestive system especially) slowly at a time when you should be letting your system rest.
Related Questions
Can I have sleep apnea and not know it?
A lot of the symptoms of sleep apnea can be observed by others, but may not be observed by the person itself. Snoring, for example, as well as choking sounds made during the night, are things that your roommate or partner can tell you about, while you may not necessarily feel it happening. The daytime symptoms, like sleepiness, lack of focus and irritability, can also be credited to a number of different things, leaving a lot of people completely clueless that they have sleep apnea.
Does sleep apnea happen every night?
Most of the time, the symptoms of sleep apnea can be observed every night. Interruptions in breathing can last for 10 to 30 seconds each time, and could even reach up to a minute or two for some. These apneas, or interruptions on breathing, can happen up to 400 times in a single night.
