What sounds like snoring are considered abnormal?

My husband often snores with a "gurgling" sound in his sleep, as if something is stuck in his throat. Is this unusual? (Huyen, 34 years old, Hanoi )

Reply:

Snoring can be a normal occurrence or a warning sign of a medical condition. By listening to the sound of snoring, we can get a general idea of whether it's caused by a medical problem.

Simple, harmless snoring occurs infrequently, when the body is tired, when sleeping on their back, or when suffering from a cold or flu... In these cases, family members may hear a steady, gentle snoring sound that isn't too loud; the snorer remains sound asleep without waking up in the middle of the night.

Snoring is considered abnormal when it occurs frequently, sounds heavy, a whistling sound like a blockage in the nose and throat, and is accompanied by short periods of apnea. The snorer suddenly stops snoring, pauses breathing for about 10 seconds, then abruptly resumes snoring or wakes up. In most of these cases, the patient suffers from a dangerous condition called sleep apnea. Untreated, this condition increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and coronary artery disease; memory loss, difficulty concentrating, daytime sleepiness; and can even lead to sudden death during the night.

With the symptoms you described, it's highly likely your husband has sleep apnea. You should take him to a medical facility with a specialized respiratory department for examination.

At the Respiratory Department of Tam Anh General Hospital, doctors use polysomnography to accurately diagnose whether a patient has sleep apnea. Patients sleep overnight at the hospital, with a monitoring device attached to them while they sleep. The device's sensors record data on changes in nasal airflow, snoring, chest and abdominal movements, electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, eye movements, chin muscle activity, and leg movements. Based on this data, doctors analyze the patient's sleep and use the apnea-hypnea index (AHI) to diagnose and assess the severity of sleep apnea. Simultaneously, doctors determine whether the sleep apnea is caused by airway obstruction or other underlying conditions, thus developing an appropriate treatment plan.

If your husband's snoring is indeed due to sleep apnea, you don't need to worry too much because the condition is now completely treatable. The most successful method currently applied at Tam Anh General Hospital is positive airway pressure (CPAP). The machine helps deliver a stream of oxygen at sufficient pressure to open the airway, helping patients stop snoring, receive enough oxygen, sleep well, and no longer feel tired or sluggish upon waking. Currently, the rate of snoring elimination using CPAP is nearly 100%.

Master of Science, Doctor Phung Thi Thom
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi

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