Snoring: The (LOUD) Silent Killer

Submitted for publication by Scot Bennick,D.C.


Snoring; we have all heard a loved one do it at some point. But do you have to hear it every night? Have you been told that you snore? “It’s just noise,” you say to yourself. Snoring is more than a noise problem; it disrupts our partner’s sleep among other things. In fact, almost half of all couples report that they wake up or have disturbed sleep at least once a week due to their partner’s snoring. Snoring isn’t just a problem for the spouse; it is a strong indicator of health problems such as allergies or sleep apnea. 

Snoring should be labeled the loud, silent killer. This is because snoring is largely viewed as just a noise problem and not a health problem. Snoring is an example of a “gate” rattling, which is fluctuating between open and closed. Different anatomical structures will vibrate; this will disturb their sleep cycles, cause shallower breathing, and not allow for the “restful” sleep that is normal and healthy. But more importantly, snoring is a strong indicator of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea, a serious condition where someone stops breathing during sleep, is an extreme case of the “gate” not staying open. It is very common for someone with severe sleep apnea to have up to 60 apnic episodes per hour! During this period of not breathing, the person’s blood oxygen levels drop. This is called hypoxia or a desaturation event. It is common to see someone with sleep apnea have their blood saturation levels go into the 70% range, while a healthy person will maintain a level in the mid to upper 90’s.

Sleep apnea leads to hypoxia.  “Hypo” means less than or below, “ox” refers to oxygen. Together they describe a state of low oxygen in the body. Black’s Medical dictionary continues, “If severe and prolonged it will cause organ damage and death as cellular function is dependent on oxygen.”

WebMD.com estimates that 10% of the general population has some form of sleep apnea, which totals over 30 million Americans. In one recent study of 28 fibromyalgia patients, 27 were found to have sleep apnea. Another study revealed that strokes usually happen at night, and that about 70% of the victims had sleep apnea. Another study revealed that 49% of males with heart failures also suffer from sleep apnea. Others link depression, heartburn, diabetes to sleep apnea.

How do you find out if you have sleep apnea vs. simple snoring? Only a sleep professional can diagnose if someone has sleep apnea. However, someone without the sleep-apnea “diagnosis” can suspect they might, if they don’t feel rested when they get out of bed in the morning. They will tend to drink beverages with caffeine to stay awake, and still be tired during the day. They might have unexplained weight gain, morning headaches, depression, a “double chin”, or unable to lose weight.  Often their neck is thick and they have high blood pressure.

A partner might comment that they noticed that the partner had stopped breathing for a while when they were sleeping. Also, they might also remember waking themselves up with their snoring or gasping for air.

So the next time you hear a loved one snoring, share this information with them. Don’t make jokes about someone’s snoring problem. With education and proper care, the Loud, Silent Killer can be silenced.

Currently, NoSnoreRENO is the only place to receive NoSnore Therapy.  NoSnore Therapy is a drug-less, non-invasive therapy to address hypoxia and its mechanisms, such as snoring and sleep apnea.

Office location is 5060 Meadowood Mall Circle, Reno, inside the Ageless Zone Medical Spa and Salon. Call 775-815-3048 for more information or goto www.SleepApneaAlternatives.com.