Should I see a doctor: Snoring

It’s the middle of the night and suddenly your partner nudges you awake. Turns out you’ve kept them awake with your freight-train-like snoring.

Is it allergy congestion? Were you lying in a weird position? Or could it be something worrisome?

What’s ‘normal’

Everyone snores from time to time.

In most cases, occasional snoring isn’t reason for concern and will likely be temporary. Think nasal congestion from allergies or a virus, acid reflux or heartburn, eating a large meal before bed, or simply sleeping in an unusual position.

If the snoring isn’t interfering with your or your partner’s sleep, it’s likely not severe.

What’s ‘not normal’

If you find yourself jolting awake struggling to breathe or getting repeated complaints from those sleeping around you, consider the STOP-BANG self-assessment for sleep apnea. The test can also be helpful if you don’t have someone next to you at night and you’re curious if you’re at risk.

• Snoring
• Tiredness
• Observed apnea
• Pressure (blood pressure higher than 130/80)
• BMI over 35
• Age over 50
• Neck circumference greater than 40
• Gender (men are at higher risk)

You only need to meet three of these factors to be considered at-risk for sleep apnea. If you meet three or more, consider consulting your doctor or other health care provider.

How to care for your condition

Stopping — or at a minimum reducing — your snoring is key to promoting natural sleep patterns and preventing conditions such as heart arrythmia, high blood pressure and a heightened risk of heart attack, stroke and mental health struggles like anxiety and depression.

Luckily, snoring is treatable at varying levels of severity.

A few tricks to try:

• Adjust your sleep position or switch out your pillow or mattress to better support a clear airway
• Consider weight-loss options
• Avoid overuse of alcohol or sleep aides that can interfere with normal sleep patterns

For those who seek professional care, you can expect to undergo a sleep study to determine if you have obstructive sleep apnea and whether you could benefit from a CPAP machine.

Medical review provided for this piece by Troy Underbrink, DO, with MultiCare Family Medicine – West Tacoma.