Different Levels of Snoring
Mild resistance of the airflow for any reason, ranging from nasal congestion to a deviated septum, may result to a snoring that is not associated with any sleep disturbance. This condition may simply be called primary snoring.
If the resistance to airflow increases, the needed inhalation to maintain adequate proper breathing causes transient sudden arousal from sleep. Though it may not be severe enough to cause the level of oxygen in the blood to decrease, it is still considered as a condition related to sleep. This is called RERA or respiratory effort related arousal.
When the resistance increases even more than the stage above, the breathing efforts one does cannot be at par with the degree of resistance to maintain sufficient levels of oxygen, ultimately, airflow decreases or stops. This syndrome may then lead to a decrease in the oxygen of the blood. As a result, sleep becomes disturbed occasionally and sleep is often fragmented. This is termed as obstructive hypopneas or apneas, the condition being called obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.
If the resistance to airflow increases, the needed inhalation to maintain adequate proper breathing causes transient sudden arousal from sleep. Though it may not be severe enough to cause the level of oxygen in the blood to decrease, it is still considered as a condition related to sleep. This is called RERA or respiratory effort related arousal.
When the resistance increases even more than the stage above, the breathing efforts one does cannot be at par with the degree of resistance to maintain sufficient levels of oxygen, ultimately, airflow decreases or stops. This syndrome may then lead to a decrease in the oxygen of the blood. As a result, sleep becomes disturbed occasionally and sleep is often fragmented. This is termed as obstructive hypopneas or apneas, the condition being called obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.