For most of us, sleep is an elusive concept but there are times when you cannot sleep because of others. This happens when the person next to you is snoring a lot. Snoring can occur due to multiple reasons. However, it is also seen as a symptom of many diseases.
So our article begs the question- can you have sleep apnea without snoring? Is it possible? But before that, we also look into what sleep apnea is and what are its common causes.
Moreover, this article will also discuss the current treatment methods prevalent for the disease. We will also help you identify if you have the disease without snoring as a major symptom.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
We are yet to know if can you have sleep apnea without snoring. Before that, we will know what sleep apnea is. Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when people cannot breathe properly during their sleep.
Normally when you sleep, your breathing is regulated with the help of your lungs and brain but sometimes it is seen that people have difficulty regulating them and that is when it leads to sleep apnea. Now let’s look at the types of sleep apnea.
Types of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea can be a menace but you would be surprised to know that there are 3 types of it-
1. Obstructive sleep apnea- Can you have sleep apnea without snoring we are not sure but there could be a lot of obstruction in your airway. So what if nothing is stuck in your throat visibly? How can you have OSA?
Sleep apnea affects your throat when the muscles that enable breathing properly have difficulty tightening right back up. It usually leads to the weakening of throat muscles and blocks the airway completely. This is what can be called OSA.
2. Central sleep apnea- From the description you would know that this has something to do with our central nervous system. What happens when we sleep is that there is a possibility that the brain forgets to send signals to the body to regulate breathing and when this happens, you have sleep apnea.
3. Complex sleep apnea syndrome- A simpler concept among the three but a complex one in nature, this is a combination of both type 1 and type 2.
Common causes of sleep apnea
- Excessive weight- This is considered to be one of the most common causes of sleep apnea. It also answers if you can have sleep apnea without or with snoring. Now those with excessive weight have fat deposited around the nasal passage, have problems with snoring and which could lead to sleep apnea.
- Anatomical factors – prove you can have sleep apnea without snoring as having a thick neck or shallow airway passage might be equally harmful.
- Heart disorders- With no regular blood flow chances are you could have sleep apnea.
- Brainstem damages- People with damage to their brain stem have difficulty regulating their breath when sleeping.
How do you know if you have sleep apnea without snoring?
Most people with sleep apnea do snore a lot but can you have sleep apnea without snoring? The answer is absolutely yes. There are some cases and instances where the individual has silent sleep apnea and certainly, there are symptoms to know if that is the case with you.
Firstly, people who find themselves indulging in siestas during the day can indicate that they have sleep apnea without snoring. Secondly, if you have sleep apnea you might feel congested in your throat and might even feel like you are in a chokehold. Thirdly, while you might not be able to identify the condition yourself, chances are others might be able to see if you have the condition or not.
Additionally, sleep apnea can cause disturbances in the sleep schedule which means you could have problems when you wake up like a persistent headache. Moreover, those who wonder if can you have sleep apnea without snoring must also know that some might show problems in memory instead.
Frequent nightmare awakenings have also been associated with sleep apnea. So is a dry throat that is parched and needs water even though you drank enough before sleep. Lastly, people with sleep apnea also feel irritated or cranky throughout the day even after sleeping for 8 hours.
Can sleep apnea be cured? Treatment for sleep apnea
Now that we know you can have sleep apnea with snoring, let’s look at the treatment protocols that may help you overcome it anyway. To get it out of the way, you cannot find a permanent cure for sleep apnea, you can however follow steps to manage it. This includes-
1. Continuous positive Airway pressure- This basically involves you wearing a mask that can externally control the air pressure in your body and help you sleep comfortably.
2. Bi-level positive airway pressure- This is the same as the former that controls inhalation and exhalation of your respiration.
3. Oral appliances- People also use appliances such as mouthpieces that can help them with breathing and regulation.
4. Lifestyle modifications- If you smoke or drink, you might want to put a lid on that as it can be of no help.
