Top Story: Snoring too loudly? Doctor weighs in on myths and solutions to get better sleep

From the United States, thirty seven million people say they snore on a regular basis and for a lot of those people, it can be extremely disruptive and exhausting. Snoring is also a sign for sleep apnea and there are several devices and methods people have been using for years to try and combat it.

Dr. Akinbolaji Akingbola, an assistant professor of medicine who specializes in sleep medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School spoke to WBUR Radio about these methods and myths. He says for a lot of us, snoring is just an anatomical issue, but when there is snoring and sleep apnea, the main concern is treating sleep apnea. 
“Within obstructive sleep apnea, there is an obstruction to your airway that causes a disruption in your breathing pattern. What should be reassuring is our brains do a very good job of waking us up. That’s one of the key features of obstructive sleep apnea,” said Dr. Akingbola. So if your partner is experiencing obstructive sleep apnea, you don’t need to be concerned that they won’t wake up.

Dr. Akingbola says the biggest danger from sleep apnea on a daily basis would be if you are someone who has to maintain alertness as part of your job. Treating sleep apnea is also important as it tends to contribute to the burden of some chronic diseases. So if you are concerned about it, Dr. Akingbola recommends talking to your primary care doctor and getting a referral to a sleep specialist.

You can listen to the interview and learn more about sleep apnea treatments here.