30701 Woodward Ave, Suite 200
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Royal Oak, MI 48073
I’m sure we’ve all seen the hilarious video of Billy the snoring husband turned customer service agent.
But if you haven’t, then let me recap it for you.
Billy is sound asleep when his obnoxious snoring wakes up his annoyed wife, who calmly asks him to “adjust your neck or something” in hopes of gaining some peace and quiet — so she can sleep, too.
Billy’s response had the entire internet laughing.
“Why what’s wrong?” he asked.
“You’re like gurgling,” she replies.
“I don’t think it’s me. I’m doing pretty good here. I’m sitting straight and got everything I need right here in front of me,” Billy said.
“I do appreciate your concern, though,” he continued. “And if we can help in any way in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.”
Billy proceeded to fall back asleep, but his snore returned less than 30 seconds later.
“Billy,” his wife says again. “Cough.”
Billy couged — then proceeded to continue with his sleeptalking.
“Was it nice? Is that all you need” he asked. “Alright, well I do thank you for your time and for being a customer. If I can help you in any way in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, okay?”
“Alright, thank you. Have a good Sunday. Have a good rest of your weekend,” he concluded.
Billy’s exchange with his wife has gone viral — not just because of how funny it is, but it’s also a good reminder that loud or excessive snoring is one of the most common obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
And if your nights are anything like Billy’s, then a trip to your ENT doctor in Detroit, MI can help.
You’ve probably heard of sleep apnea, but did you know there are different types of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes your breathing to repeatedly stop and start in the middle of the night. These pauses usually last longer than 10 seconds and can happen at least five times per hour.
In many cases, the pauses happen without the person even realizing it.
(Unless, of course, you have a wife like Billy)
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much during sleep, causing your airway to narrow or close completely.
When this happens, your body struggles to get enough oxygen.
As a result, your brain jolts you awake in an effort to reopen your airway.
Each interruption pulls you out of the deep, restorative stages of sleep that your mind and body need to recharge. Over time, the constant cycle of waking and grasping for air can negatively impact quality of life.
One of the biggest issues with obstructive sleep apnea is that most people don’t know they have it.
In fact, the American Medical Association (AMA) estimates that roughly 30 million people in the United States are living with sleep apnea, but only 6 million (or 20%) are actually diagnosed with the condition.
That’s why it’s so important to understand (and recognize) the symptoms.
When the population is aware of what to look out for, more people will be inclined to visit their ENT doctor in Detroit, MI to diagnose and treat their sleep apnea — ultimately improving their overall outlook on life.
And that’s exactly what we hope to do here at The Rontal Clinic.
So, while the social media videos are funny, let’s not overlook the fact that most sleep disruptions are usually linked to real health issues — and those issues are often easy to treat once properly diagnosed.
With that said, here’s a look at some of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
Not all people who snore have OSA, but many do — and it shouldn’t be ignored.
When snoring becomes loud, persistent or happens every single night, it could be a sign of something more serious. With OSA, the snoring is often caused by air squeezing through a partially blocked airway.
It’s your body’s way of signaling that your breathing isn’t as smooth as it should be while you sleep.
This is one of the most recognizable symptoms of OSA.
When your airway closes off during sleep, your brain sends an emergency signal that briefly wakes you up just enough to reopen it — and this awakening is often met with a sudden gasp, choke or snort.
You might not remember these moments in the morning, but your significant other often will.
If you get more than enough sleep but it doesn’t feel like it, then you might have OSA.
Since OSA prevents your body from reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep, patients often wake up feeling sluggish or wake up feeling like they need to rely on caffeine to get through their day.
Chronic fatigue is your body’s way of telling you that your sleep isn’t as restful as it should be.
If you regularly wake up with a dull, throbbing headache, sleep apnea could be the culprit.
Those repeated drops in oxygen levels throughout the night can cause blood vessel changes and a buildup of carbon dioxide — both of which contribute to that foggy, achy feeling first thing in the morning.
While over-the-counter medication can help reduce the headache, it won’t solve the underlying issue.
Sleep isn’t just about rest — it’s when your brain consolidates memories and clears out mental clutter.
When OSA disrupts that process night after night, it can affect your ability to think clearly, focus and remember things — causing you to be forgetful, easily distracted or struggle to stay sharp during the day.
This can not only affect your performance at work, but also your relationships at home.
Is your partner constantly complaining about your snoring at night? Do you find yourself waking up out of breath in the middle of the night? Do you suffer from early morning headaches or daytime sleepiness?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, then you’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to The Rontal Clinic — your go-to ENT doctor in Detroit, MI.
Whether your OSA symptoms are mild or severe, our experienced ENT specialists in Detroit, MI take the time to understand each patient’s unique needs in order to develop a treatment plan that works for them.
So, if your nights sound a little too much like Billy’s, then don’t worry — we can help.
Please don’t hesitate to contact The Rontal Clinic today at (248) 737-4030. Your comfort and well-being are always our top priority. After all, everyone deserves a good night’s sleep — including your partner.