Your throat tissues can become relaxed and obstruct your airway, triggering sleep apnea. This means that your breathing is restricted during a sleep apnea event, and you may gasp for air or choke. Surprisingly, most people with the condition don’t even realize it’s happening. It’s usually their poor sleeping partner who bears witness to this madness.
With this scenario, most patients ask if they can get sleep apnea without snoring. Or is there silent sleep apnea? Let’s debunk this myth as we explore different facts about sleep apnea, its symptoms, and some options to treat this disease.
The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Sleep apnea causes pauses in an individual’s breathing throughout the night, as if the person is gasping for air. Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea which happens when there’s a slight obstruction in the airway, causing the tissues in the throat to vibrate and produce the snoring sound.
A few factors can contribute to both snoring and sleep apnea. Obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, a congested nose, a small throat, or swollen tonsils can all cause the airway to constrict or collapse during sleeping. Snoring often happens first before sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea may snore loudly at first but then stop breathing for a few seconds and create a choking or gasping sound when they try to breathe again.
Snoring and sleep apnea can harm sleep quality. Snoring affects both the snorer and their partner. Sleep apnea causes spontaneous awakenings from sleep and apnea, resulting in exhaustion, daytime sleepiness, and other symptoms. Both can cause adverse effects if left untreated. Sleep apnea has been connected with significant health problems, including stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other heart disease. While snoring is not as harmful as it once was, it can still disrupt sleep and harm general health.
Debunking the Myth: Can You Have Sleep Apnea Without Snoring?
Yes, it is possible to have sleep apnea without snoring. Snoring is a sound produced during sleep that occurs when there is an obstruction or narrowing in the airway, but it does not necessarily indicate sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has different types, including obstructive sleep apnea, central, and mixed sleep apnea. In central sleep apnea, there is difficulty in communication between the breathing muscles and the brain, which can result in a lack of breathing and no snoring.
In obstructive apnea, there is a blockage in the airway despite efforts to breathe, and snoring may be present when the air can still pass around the obstruction, creating a grunting or snorting sound. However, when the obstruction fully relaxes and blocks the airway, snoring does not occur because breathing is not taking place. So, while snoring and sleep apnea are different, sleep apnea can indeed happen without snoring.
Identifying Sleep Apnea Without Snoring: Silent Symptoms
Sleep apnea can also occur without the obvious indication of snoring. This implies that patients with sleep apnea may not make the normal snoring sound while sleeping. Other silent symptoms and indicators can help detect the presence of sleep apnea. Here are several examples:
Morning Headaches
Waking up with a headache in the morning could be a sign of sleep apnea. When your airways are blocked and you don’t get enough oxygen, it can cause headaches and migraines.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Sleep apnea patients frequently experience excessive daytime exhaustion. If you feel sleepy throughout the day, even after a full night’s sleep, it might be a symptom that you’re not receiving enough quality sleep at night due to sleep apnea. This is because your airways may become clogged as you sleep, leading you to wake up multiple times without realizing it.
Difficulty Concentrating
Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to concentrate or focus during the day, which is especially true for individuals who suffer from sleep apnea. Even though you don’t feel too drowsy, if you’re having trouble staying focused or remembering things, it might be a subtle indicator of this sleep problem.
High Blood Pressure
Sleep apnea causes your heart and lungs to be stressed due to a lack of oxygen, which can contribute to high blood pressure. If you already have hypertension, you should talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of apnea.
Treatment Options for Silent Sleep Apnea
Treating silent sleep apnea has similarities to treating loud sleep apnea. The primary goal is to improve sleep quality and ease respiratory issues. Here are some common treatment options:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
One of the most common treatment choices for sleep apnea, particularly silent sleep apnea, is CPAP therapy. This therapy requires sleeping with a mask over your nose or mouth. Steady airflow is delivered to the mask attached to a machine that helps you breathe continuously that prevents breathing pauses. This therapy may take some getting accustomed to, but many individuals find it worthwhile to put in the effort to alleviate their sleep apnea symptoms.
Read Also: How To Cure Sleep Apnea Naturally At Home Without CPAP
Oral appliances
Oral appliances are mouthguards that are custom-made to keep your airway open while you sleep. They function by keeping your tongue and jaw forward, preventing your airway from collapsing. While oral appliances are not as effective as CPAP therapy, they are frequently a viable option for those who find CPAP uncomfortable.
Positional therapy
Positional therapy involves changing your sleep position to prevent your airway from collapsing. If you usually sleep on your back, positional therapy may involve sleeping on your side instead. This method is often used with other therapies for maximum effectiveness.
Weight Loss
Because obesity is a common risk factor for sleep apnea, losing weight may be an effective treatment option for people with silent sleep apnea. Losing weight reduces the amount of tissue in your throat, which helps in keeping your airway open while you sleep. Even a 5-10% weight loss can make a big difference in sleep apnea symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle modifications can help improve sleep apnea symptoms. These include keeping a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, quitting smoking, and practicing excellent sleep hygiene.
Surgery
One of the main benefits of surgical treatment for silent sleep apnea is the potential for a permanent cure. Unlike CPAP or oral appliances, which require ongoing use, surgical treatment can address the underlying causes of sleep apnea and provide a long-term solution. However, there are risks associated, such as bleeding, infection, and scarring, as with any operation.
The Importance of Seeking Professional Help
Getting help from a sleep specialist is vital for treating sleep apnea. Healthcare professionals specializing in sleep disorders can accurately diagnose the type and how severe the sleep apnea is through comprehensive evaluations, ensuring appropriate treatment. They have treatments that work well, like CPAP machines and mouthguards. They’ll check on you regularly and make changes if needed. Your healthcare provider can also assist you in making lifestyle adjustments that will enhance your sleep. By seeing a specialist, you can get the right treatment and have better sleep and health.
Read Next: Is Sleep Apnea Genetic?
Garza DDS: Your Solution for Silent Sleep Apnea
Silent sleep apnea is a condition that affects people who don’t snore but still experience breathing difficulties during sleep. Some symptoms of sleep apnea without snoring include excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. These symptoms may not be as obvious as snoring, but they can still significantly impact your health. Reach out to our sleep apnea experts from Gilbert, AZ, today to schedule a comprehensive evaluation and find suitable treatment options.