If you snore, chances are you’re well aware of it. That’s either because your partner has probably given you a shove in the middle of the night, asking you to roll over or fix your pillows, or perhaps you’ve woken yourself up from the noise. It’s annoying to keep waking up at night, but you should also be thankful for the alert. Snoring affects 94% of people with sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to more trips to the hospital as you get older and increase the risk of lung cancer and lung cancer reoccurrence. Night sweats impact 30% of adults with OSA, according to research. “The hypothesis is that to rescue the body from these repeated assaults from not breathing and low oxygen, the brain has to have some way of getting the body out of a jam,” Yuen said. “In addition to increased urination, one way is by waking us up abruptly through sweating.” People with OSA often sleep with their mouths open to help increase oxygen flow. Yuen said if you wake up with a cotton mouth feeling or a sore throat, it may be from snoring or mouth breathing from sleep apnea. This can be a helpful symptom to note if you sleep alone and don’t have someone telling you that you gasp, stop breathing or snore in your sleep. “If it’s been about a month and there’s no acute life stressors, mood disorders, or existing health concerns, these signs could indicate a sleep disorder,” Yuen said. “Also, pay attention to how you feel the next day in different sleeping positions. If you sleep on your back and feel foggy and fatigued compared to a night when you sleep on your side, this could be a tip-off to having a breathing problem.” It’s important to be aware of your personal risk factors, too. Men and women who are overweight are at a higher risk, especially if that weight sits in the neck or chest area. Dzierzewski said that men tend to display higher rates of sleep apnea, while Yuen noted that certain hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can increase the risk for women because of weight gain. Other risk factors include teeth or jaw-structured challenges (Yuen said your dentist may flag this for you) and people who suffer from acid reflux.
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Saturday, January 18, 2025