866.465.4478Catathrenia or Groaning in Sleep and Sleep Apnea
Groaning at night is also known as catathrenia. It’s a rare sleep disorder that causes loud groaning while a person is asleep, usually during exhaling. Most sleepers never know they are groaning in their sleep. In most cases, sleep partners are the first to alert them to the problem.
What is Catathrenia?
Often, groaning while asleep is misdiagnosed as sleep apnea because the symptoms are so similar. The moans can last between two seconds to 49 seconds and occur mostly during the deepest level of sleep known as REM sleep.
Why Do I Make Groaning Noises in My Sleep?
There is no clear understanding of why some people groan while they are asleep. Some researchers suspect that neurological dysfunction in the part of the brain that controls the respiratory system causes excessive exhaling. Genetics may also be a factor with nearly 15% of people experiencing catathrenia having a family history of the problem. Also, people with the condition tend to have smaller jaws and smaller upper airways, which may be contributing to catathrenia.
How is Catathrenia Different from Snoring?
Groaning during sleep is very different than snoring. Groaning begins in the larynx, or voice box, while snoring begins in the throat. However, both snoring and groaning do have in common their disturbance of bed partners.
How to Stop Catathrenia or Groaning in Sleep
CPAP therapy is one of the most common treatments for both snoring and nighttime groaning. CPAP machines use pressurized air to keep airways open during sleep to prevent respiratory disruptions. A doctor may also prescribe an oral appliance if the problem is related to jaw structure or airway obstruction, or they may require adenoid or tonsil surgery in more serious cases.
Can A Sleep Study DetectCatathrenia?
A physical examination by a doctor is the first step in determining if groaning during sleep is related to clearly visible jaw, tonsil, or airway abnormalities. A sleep study is a good follow-up if no physical basis of the problem can be detected. A sleep study will determine if there are irregularities in nighttime breathing that may be the source of the groaning.