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snoring

What is the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?

Snoring is a symptom, and sleep apnea is a disease. Not all people who snore have sleep apnea, although many do. Most people who have sleep apnea do snore, but some do not. When snoring occurs in a person without sleep apnea, it is often called primary snoring. It is important to know whether your snoring is a sign of a more serious health condition, such as sleep apnea. A Chicago sleep clinic can perform examinations and tests to diagnose breathing disorders in order to determine whether you have sleep apnea and what kind of treatment you need.

The upper airway consists of the nasal passages, the oropharynx (back of the mouth) and the throat (pharynx). When airways are narrowed due to swollen tissue, redundant tissue, or other obstruction, the air flow becomes turbulent, vibrating the tissues and creating a sound. This sound is snoring. Airway narrowing is worse at night because muscles relax during sleep and the tissues can collapse, causing further blockage to the airway. If the blockage fully obstructs the airway, apneas occur.

Apnea is defined as the cessation of breath. When the upper airway is blocked, air cannot pass in our out of the lungs. Because air is not reaching the lungs, oxygen levels in the blood fall, sending a signal to the brain to wake up. A snorting, gasping, or choking sound may be made when re-starting to breathe. This may cause you to partially or fully awaken, and you may or may not remember these arousals the following day. 

While sleep apnea has more serious health implications than snoring such as increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, both conditions can negatively impact quality of life for yourself and those who sleep near you. Frequent arousals and loud snoring can diminish sleep quality and lead to daytime fatigue. Chronic sleep deprivation can cause problems at home and at work.

There are many treatments for both snoring and sleep apnea, ranging from masks worn at night to surgical procedures to remove redundant tissue and increase airway size. If you are looking for sleep apnea treatment or a snoring cure , contact a physician, such as Dr. Michael Friedman or one of his colleges who can diagnose breathing disorders . The doctor can determine the sleep apnea cause by performing examinations of your airway. There is a special test, called a sleep study or polysomnogram used to diagnose breathing disorders . 

A polysomnogram or sleep study uses a computerized recording of your brain and cardiovascuaascular activity to asses your sleep patterns. Traditionally, sleep studies were performed in hospital or storefront sleep “labs.” It is often very difficult to sleep comfortably in these situations. In order to create an environment to allow for comfortable, natural sleep. Sleep Diagnostics has based their testing sites in luxurious hotel suits. Checking into a comfortable hotel creates a secure, relaxed atmosphere essential for a good nights sleep. As part of the study, you are entitled to enjoy the hotel facilities. The rooms are designed so that data collection goes through a computer port directly to the technician’s suite. Crown Plazas in Chicago and throughout the suburbs make the testing easy to arrange and convenient.
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