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When Should I See A Doctor For Snoring Symptoms?

man not able to get full nights sleepSnoring really needs no introduction -- that harsh, hoarse sound is rather unmistakable. But it occurs for a reason and shouldn't be brushed off as just an annoying habit.

Snoring occurs when your airway is partially blocked by tissue in your mouth, nose, or throat. While this blockage can be temporary in some cases, it's a cause for concern in others and may be a symptom of a more serious health condition.

In this blog post, eos dental sleep's snoring specialist will explain when snoring symptoms are serious enough to see a specialist.

Snoring Has Symptoms - and Can Be a Symptom Itself

Snoring is often a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea is a condition in which that partial blockage of your airway, the one causing the snoring, becomes a total blockage, and your airflow is cut off. Not everyone who snores has OSA, and really, not everyone with OSA snores. But the two often go hand in hand.

Snoring's main symptom is its sound, but other symptoms that can occur along with snoring that indicate the presence of OSA include:

  • A feeling that you've been gasping and choking in your sleep
  • Actually waking up while gasping and choking
  • Not feeling refreshed or feeling very sleepy after a full night's sleep
  • Nighttime chest pain
  • Headaches and a dry, sore throat in the morning
  • Extremely loud snoring
  • Moodiness, brain fog, and concentration problems
  • Rising blood pressure

Any of these symptoms plus snoring is a signal to see a sleep or snoring specialist for further evaluation. You need to find out what's causing the snoring symptoms and if you have OSA. Don't wait to see a specialist because the longer you let the condition go on, the worse the effects can be.

Is it Possible to Test for Sleep Apnea at Home?

Diagnosing the cause of snoring or whether you have sleep apnea used to involve staying overnight in a sleep lab, but now there's convenient technology that lets you stay at home while you're being tested.

Instead of having to plan a trip to get a polysomnogram, which is the test used to see what you're doing when you sleep, the snoring specialist will sit you with a home sleep testing unit that's worn like a headband while you're in bed. This device gathers data as you sleep, such as whether or not you've stopped breathing at any point. It can collect enough date to identify what is behind your snoring symptoms.

One more advantage to home testing is that you won't have clinicians watching you as you sleep. The idea of other people observing sleep can be uncomfortable for some patients, and the at-home sleep test eliminates this concern.

Where You Can Get Snoring Treatment in Philadelphia

At eos dental sleep, our goal is to not only diagnose what is creating your snoring symptoms, but also to soothe those symptoms and causes so you can get restful, peaceful sleep that makes you feel rested and alert in the morning. Good sleep improves your quality of life, and we want to help you achieve that improvement.

If you are diagnosed with OSA or with a chronic condition causing your snoring symptoms, we can help you overcome those conditions with proper treatment. Our practice specializes in oral appliance therapy for both snoring and OSA, which allows you to get better rest without having to resort to using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask. Some patients find CPAP masks uncomfortable and almost as frustrating as the condition itself.

Give us call or contact us online to schedule a consultation now. We want you to have a good night's sleep!