When you breathe, air travels through your nose down the back of your throat, and into your lungs. When you are awake, muscles of this upper airway remain open but when you sleep these muscles relax allowing the air passage to narrow or partially block it. So, during sleep when air passes through this narrow passage, it causes the muscles to vibrate, which creates the sound of snoring.

While snoring is harmless, it can lead to poor-quality sleep, daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder where your breathing gets interrupted several times during sleep.

These interruptions can lead to more severe health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, hypoxia (decreased blood oxygen levels), and more.

There are three main types of sleep apnea, which are as follows:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the airflow reduces or completely stops due to physical blockage in the upper airway passage. Here, the body is breathing against the closed or restricted airway, and the patient is unable to take adequate air (breath) due to this obstruction.

2. Central sleep apnea: Central sleep apnea or CSA occurs when the brain fails to transmit signals to the muscles controlling breathing. There is no physical blockage of the airway but instead, the respiratory muscles are not activated to take in breath. There is a lack of respiratory effort in CSA.

3. Complex sleep apnea: This occurs when an individual has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. However, if an individual has OSA and after getting treatment it turns into central type, then it is called treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

The best way to sleep to stop snoring is on your side. Sleeping on your back causes the tongue and soft tissue to collapse to the back of your airway, which leads to the narrowing of the airway and causes snoring.

Thus, by sleeping on your side, you keep your airway open and reduce the chances of snoring. Additionally, you can elevate the head of your bed by at least 4 inches or use an anti-snoring pillow to reduce snoring by keeping your airways more open.

You should see a doctor about your snoring if it happens frequently and affects your sleep quality. You should also consult a healthcare provider if you experience loud snoring, wake up gasping or choking, or if you have pauses in your breathing during sleep.

No, snoring is not always a sign of sleep apnea. However, if you experience loud snoring and it is accompanied by other symptoms such as choking or gasping during sleep, pauses in breathing, daytime fatigue, or difficulty concentrating, it may indicate sleep apnea

The risks associated with untreated sleep apnea are as follows:

1. Heart or cardiovascular disease
2. Stroke
3. High blood pressure
4. Type-2 diabetes
5. Severe or excessive daytime sleepiness
6. Poor memory consolidation
7. Depression and mental disorders

Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a combination of medical history and symptoms, physical examination, and sleep studies. The gold standard to diagnose OSA is polysomnography, also known as sleep study (Level 1). In some cases, a simplified version of the polysomnography sleep study can be done at home using a home sleep test. This test typically measures your heart rate, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels.

An anti-snoring mouthpiece, like Snoreka, is a mandibular advancement device that helps to move the lower jaw in a forward position to maintain an open airway during sleep.

Most people start to see results with an anti-snoring mouthpiece within a few nights of use. However, it can take up to a couple of weeks to get fully accustomed to wearing the device and to achieve optimal results.

It's important to follow the fitting instructions carefully and to give your body some time to adjust. If snoring persists after a few weeks of consistent use, or if the mouthpiece causes discomfort, consult with a healthcare provider or dentist for further advice or adjustments.

Home sleep tests (HSTs), like Fastnap Sleep Band, are a travel-friendly, cost-effective, and easy-to-use option for diagnosing sleep apnea. They provide the convenience of being conducted in the comfort of your own home without the need for a technician.

You should choose Dormir Bien because we understand how important sleep is for a healthy life. Derived from the French word, Dormir Bien means sleep well. It is a subsidiary of Anglo-French Drug and Industries Limited. We are committed to revolutionizing how India sleeps, ensuring everyone gets the restful sleep they need to live better lives.