Gina Johnson
Groaning in your sleep could be a symptom of catathrenia, a rare sleep disorder. People with catathrenia make long, loud, monotone groaning or moaning sounds while exhaling. These sounds can be very disturbing to a bed partner or family member and may interfere with their sleep. The exact cause of catathrenia is unknown, but it is not believed to be related to psychological or psychiatric stress. Treatments for catathrenia include CPAP, oral appliances, and surgery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Disorder | Catathrenia |
| Other Names | Nocturnal Groaning, Sleep-Related Groaning, Nighttime Groaning |
| Description | Slow, drawn-out, monotone groaning or moaning while asleep, usually when exhaling |
| Sound | Loud, between 40 decibels and 120 decibels |
| Occurrence | Rare |
| Cause | Unknown, possibly related to dysfunctional neurons in the brain, small upper airways, small jaws, limited airflow upon exhale, and low-diversity salivary microbiota |
| Diagnosis | Polysomnogram, a sleep study that charts brain waves, heartbeat, and breathing as you sleep |
| Treatment | CPAP, oral appliances, surgery |
| Impact | May interfere with sleep quality of the person with catathrenia or their bed partner |
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What You'll Learn
Catathrenia, or nocturnal groaning, is a rare sleep disorder
The exact causes of catathrenia are unknown, but it is classified as a sleep-related breathing disorder. Some research suggests that it may be associated with underlying breathing problems, such as small upper airways, small jaws, or limited airflow upon exhalation. Other factors that have been linked to catathrenia include dysfunctional neurons in the brain, low-diversity salivary microbiota, and psychological or psychiatric stress. However, more research is needed to fully understand the causes of this rare disorder.
Catathrenia can be a chronic condition, and it often starts in childhood or early adulthood. It affects people of all ages and genders, although young men and people assigned male at birth are slightly more likely to develop the condition. The disorder is typically harmless and not considered dangerous. However, it can cause social embarrassment and negatively affect relationships and sex lives. Additionally, catathrenia can interfere with sleep quality for both the affected individual and their bed partner, leading to daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
Diagnosis of catathrenia is usually made through a sleep study called a polysomnogram or polysomnography. This test records brain waves, heartbeat, breathing patterns, and body movements during sleep. Treatment options for catathrenia include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliances, and, in some cases, surgery. However, there is no specific cure for the disorder, and treatment options aim to manage symptoms and improve sleep quality.
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Groaning is likely to occur during REM sleep
Groaning in your sleep could be a symptom of catathrenia, a rare sleep disorder. Catathrenia is characterised by loud, long groans or moans while sleeping, usually when exhaling. The groaning sounds are distinct from snoring and talking during sleep, and they can be very disturbing to a bed partner or family member. People with catathrenia are often oblivious to the sounds they are making and only become aware when someone else mentions it.
Catathrenia is not usually considered dangerous, and it is not associated with a risk of physical harm. However, it can negatively impact the sleep quality of the person with the condition and their bed partner. It can also cause social embarrassment and negatively affect relationships and sex lives.
The exact cause of catathrenia is unknown, but it is believed to be related to individual factors such as dysfunctional neurons in the brain, small upper airways, small jaws, limited airflow upon exhale, and low-diversity salivary microbiota. It is not caused by psychological or psychiatric stress.
Catathrenia usually occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, one of the shorter stages of sleep, but it can also happen during non-REM sleep. The groaning sounds can last from a few moments to 40-49 seconds and may repeat for a few minutes up to an hour. These latter periods of REM sleep, when groaning is more likely to occur, can last as long as an hour.
If you suspect you or your bed partner has catathrenia, you can undergo a sleep study called a polysomnogram or polysomnography. This test will show changes in your breathing pattern and can record the groaning sounds. Treatment options include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, oral appliances, and, in some cases, surgery.
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Groaning is not related to any breathing problems
Groaning in your sleep, also known as catathrenia, is a rare sleep disorder that causes you to moan, groan, hum, or make cracking sounds while asleep. It is a sleep-related breathing disorder, but it is not usually considered dangerous or a symptom of any harmful health condition. Catathrenia is distinct from other breathing problems and sleep disorders, and it is not associated with moments in which breathing stops temporarily.
The groaning sounds made by people with catathrenia are usually loud, slow, drawn-out, and monotone, and they occur during exhalation rather than inhalation. These sounds are very different from other sleep sounds, like snoring or talking, and they can be disturbing to a bed partner or family members. The duration of the groaning sounds varies from two to 49 seconds, and they may occur in random clusters, repeating for a few minutes up to an hour, usually during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, catathrenia can also occur during non-REM sleep.
The exact cause of catathrenia is unknown, but it is believed to be related to individual factors such as dysfunctional neurons in the part of the brain that controls breathing, small upper airways, small jaws, limited airflow upon exhalation, and low-diversity salivary microbiota. It is not believed to be caused by psychological or psychiatric stress. While the disorder can interfere with a good night's sleep, it is typically harmless and not life-threatening.
Treatment options for catathrenia include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances, and surgery. CPAP has been found to be effective in certain cases, and oral appliances used to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can also be helpful. Surgery to remove tissue in the throat or airways, such as tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, may also be an option to treat catathrenia. However, it is important to note that treatment options target the root cause, and since the cause of catathrenia is not yet clear, it can be challenging to find an effective treatment.
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Groaning can be repeated throughout the night
Groaning in your sleep may be a symptom of catathrenia, a rare sleep disorder that causes you to moan, groan, hum, or make cracking sounds while asleep. The groaning sounds are usually quite loud and can be very disturbing to a bed partner or others who hear the sound. The groaning occurs during breathing out, and the breathing becomes unusually slow during a groaning episode. The sounds can last from a few moments to 40-49 seconds and can repeat for a few minutes up to an hour, often during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Catathrenia is not well understood, but research suggests it may be associated with an underlying sleep-related breathing problem. It is not believed to be caused by psychological or psychiatric stress. Limited research suggests it may be caused by dysfunctional neurons in the part of the brain that controls breathing, small upper airways, small jaws, or inspiratory flow limitation. Salivary microbiota has also been observed to have lower diversity in people with catathrenia.
Catathrenia is typically harmless and not considered dangerous. However, it can interfere with a good night's sleep for both the person with catathrenia and their bed partner. It may also mask other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or parasomnias such as sleepwalking or sleep talking. If you or your bed partner notice snoring, paused breathing at night, or other potential sleep disorders, it is important to talk to a doctor or healthcare professional.
While catathrenia is generally not a concern, it can cause social embarrassment and negatively affect relationships and sex lives. Treatment options for catathrenia include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, oral appliances, and, in some cases, surgery to remove tissue in the throat or airways. Other possible solutions include playing white noise, sleeping alone, or having the bed partner wear earplugs.
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Groaning can be treated with CPAP machines
Groaning in sleep, or catathrenia, is a rare sleep disorder that causes sleepers to moan or groan as they breathe out. While the causes of catathrenia are unknown, it is believed to be related to individual factors such as dysfunctional neurons in the brain, small upper airways, small jaws, limited airflow upon exhale, and low-diversity salivary microbiota. The condition is typically harmless and not life-threatening, but it can wake up bed partners or family members and cause social embarrassment for the person affected.
Catathrenia is considered a chronic condition and will likely continue unless treated effectively. Treatment options for catathrenia include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliances, and surgery. CPAP machines provide a steady stream of pressurised air to patients through a mask that they wear during sleep, keeping the airway open and preventing pauses in breathing. The use of CPAP machines may not cure catathrenia, but it has been found to eliminate the primary symptom of groaning in certain cases.
A 2017 study published in the journal SLEEP found that CPAP therapy successfully treated catathrenia in seven female patients between the ages of 20 and 34. All seven patients were initially treated with CPAP and then offered surgical treatment if they were unable to tolerate or adhere to CPAP recommendations. While five patients elected to undergo surgery, all four who followed up after the procedure ultimately achieved a resolution of groaning with the use of oral appliances.
In summary, groaning in sleep can be treated with CPAP machines, and this treatment option has been found to be successful in certain cases of catathrenia. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most suitable treatment option for an individual's specific needs.
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