When is snoring a medical concern? Dr Phua Chu Qin, Consultant from the Department of Ear Nose & Throat (ENT) at Sengkang General Hospital (SKH), provides guidance of when to consult a doctor for snoring.
Snoring is a common occurrence for many people, but when should you consider seeking medicalhelp for snoring?
As a sleep specialist,Dr Phua Chu Qin,Consultantfrom theDepartment of Ear Nose & Throat(ENT) atSengkang General Hospital(SKH),a member of theSingHealthgroup, helps toshed light on when you should seek medical help for snoring.
"If your snoring is causing disruptions in your sleep or affecting others, consulting a healthcare professional, could be beneficial to rule out any underlying issues or explore potential solutions.In fact, your snoring may be caused byobstructive sleepapnea(OSA) which is acommoncondition that affects close to 1 billion adultsworldwide.
Recent data from aSingapore Health Study estimated that 30.5 percent of Singapore’s population has moderate to severe OSA.As obesity is a risk factor for OSA, the prevalence of OSA is likely to rise further in the face of the worsening obesity epidemic," Dr Phua explained.
"It(OSA) happens when theupper airwaycollapses repeatedly,makingyourbreathingstop and startbriefly in sleep.Thisleadstolack of sleepand poor sleep quality.Earlydiagnosis and treatmentof OSAcan ease your symptoms andpossibly prevent future heart problems and complications," she added.
If you have the followingsymptoms, consider seeking help or an evaluation from a doctor.
6 tell-tale symptomsfor obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
1) Snore frequently and loudly
If you snoring is consistently loud and disruptive, it may be more than just a nuisance. As mentioned above, loud snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which can have serious health implications. This includes increased risk of:
Memory loss
Stroke-almost 70% of people who have had a stroke have OSA
High blood pressure(hypertension)-over 35% of people with sleep apnoea suffer from hypertension
Diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus)
Heart failureandheart attack(myocardial infarction)-by 2 to 3 times
Motor vehicle accidents - by 7 times
Work-related accidents
2) Experience pauses in breathing during sleep
If your bed partner, family or bunk mate notices that you sometimes stop breathing during sleep, this could be a red flag for sleep apnea. It is therefore advisable to seek professional advice to determine the severity of the issue and explore possible interventions.
3) Frequent daytime tiredness
Excessive snoring, along with pauses in breathing can lead to fragmented sleep, causing daytime tiredness, drowsiness and brain fog. If you find yourself constantly tired despite adequate sleep (usually 7 - 8 hours for the average adult), it is worth looking into the root cause of your snoring.
4) Have other symptoms
If you have associated symptoms such as morning headaches, poor concentration, irritability, frequent awakening at night, these could be linked to poor sleep quality from OSA.
5) Have a medical history
Individuals with medical history of high blood pressure, heart problems, or obesity can be at higher risk for sleep-related breathing issues. If you fall into any of these categories, seeking advice can be helpful.
6) Disrupt sleep for others
Your snoring might be affecting more than just you. If your partner is disturbed by your snoring, it can be time to consult healthcare professional to explore solutions that can benefit both of you.
Try this simple, self-assessmenttestto determine if you mayhaveOSA!
Another way to decide if you should see a doctorfor snoring is to try this simplequestionnaire calledSTOP-BANG questionnaire, which is a widely used screening toolforOSA. Try answering the following questions:
Do you snore loudly?(Louder than talking or loud enough to be heard through closed doors)
Do you often feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during the daytime?
Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?
Do you have (or are you being treated for) high blood pressure?
Is your BMI>35 kg/m²?
Are you 50 years old or older?
Is your neck circumference more than 40cm?
Are you of male gender?
If your answer is"yes" toat least 3 questions, there is anintermediateriskthatyou might have moderate-severe OSA.
If you say"yes" to at least 5 questions, you have ahigh risk of moderate to severe OSA.
In these 2 scenarios, it is advisable to arrange a consult with a healthcare professional.
Watch this video to learn about treatment forobstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)!
Who should you consult for snoring?
You can consider seeing an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)specialist or Respiratory physician for your snoring. These specialists can help check your symptoms, do a physical examination and possibly arrange a sleep study for you. Getting a diagnosis and starting treatment can potentially improve your sleep quality and health with your long term health.
TheDepartment of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose and Throat), Head and Neck Surgery atSengkang General Hospital (SKH)provides a wide range of specialist services focusing on a wide range of ear, nose, throat, sleep apnea and head and neck cancer conditions.
The Sleep Medicine Unit of SKHis a multidisciplinary sleep team helmed by ENT Surgeons, Respiratory physicians, orthodontist, psychiatrist, psychologist and sleep technologist dedicated and specialising in diagnosis and management of wide range of sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, narcolepsy, parasomnias and other sleep related movement disorders.
To make an appointment with SKH, call6930 6000 or email [emailprotected]
Ref: H24
Morearticles on snoringyou may be interested in:
8 Easy Exercises to Stop Snoring
8 Tips to AvoidSnoring
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA): How to Manage
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA): How to Treat
