Sleep Apnea?

[kimmyv20]

My Husband Snores Alot, Usually Lessens when he sleeps on his side. Could this be Sleep apnea?

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, snoring is a sound produced due to vibration of the soft tissue in upper airways and suggests the increasing resistance to air flow. Snoring is seen in sleep apnea but he doesn't seem to have it.

There are many conditions which is associated with snoring. It can be associated with conditions that narrow the upper airway, including obesity, nasal congestion, craniofacial abnormalities, hypothyroidism, acromegaly, and adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

He needs to get polysomnography or portable monitoring done to rule out sleep apnea. With careful history, physical examination of upper airways and thyroid status will help to rule out the cause.

I suggest him to consult sleep specialist for further evaluation. Take care and regards.

[beelzebubba]

You betcha. If you want a definitive answer, then consult your doctor and ask for a sleep study to be done. While sleep apnea is treatable, going untreated isn't a good plan. It is linked with a number of diseases (including heart disease), depression and other symptoms. I know from experience. Of course he might not have sleep apnea, but I think it is worth checking out. A sleep study is completely painless.