Sleep apnea can be a life threatening problem.  Take the STOP-Bang Survey & Epworth Sleepiness Scale to find out if you have an increased risk for sleep apnea.  As well, here are some general guidelines…You need a sleep study if:

1. Your bed partner has seen you stop breathing (witnessed apneas). They may say you are making loud snorting noises. These often follow a period where you stop breathing.
2. You snore nightly and have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or have had a stroke.
3. You snore nightly and feel excessively tired during the day.
4. You snore so loud you are considering a snoring procedure.

* One study looked at 92 people who snored nightly and 70% had at least mild sleep apnea. Knowing this before a procedure helps determine the best procedure and helps keep you safe during and after the procedure.

Why is snoring so common in humans and almost unheard of in other animals?

Other than bulldogs with their short heads and long palates, there is no other animal that has sleep apnea. This is a complication of humans developing speech. Our speech required a shared canal for breathing and swallowing. Te changes in the airway led to the tendency to obstruct our breathing. We are also one of the only animals to routinely sleep on our backs making the obstruction worse. The natural bed partner reflex is to give them snorer an elbow to make them sleep on their side. There are many people with sleep apnea that only occurs when on their back.

What is the most important or common cause of snoring and sleep apnea?

Wait!  Here it comes…..’lose weight, exercise, and stop smoking and all your problems will be solved’. Well, in most people this is true for snoring and sleep apnea.