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Put Snoring to Rest!
Is snoring interfering with you or your partner's
sleep? Find ways to take the roar out of your snore.
WebMD Medical News
Snoring is a common sleep disorder that can affect
all people at any age, although it occurs more
frequently in men and people who are overweight.
Snoring has a tendency to worsen with age.
Forty-five percent of adults snore occasionally,
while 25% are considered habitual snorers.
Occasional snoring is usually not very serious and
is mostly a nuisance for the bed partner of the
person who snores. However, the habitual snorer not
only disrupts the sleep patterns of those close to
him, he also disturbs his own. Habitual snorers
snore whenever they sleep and are often tired after
a night of what seems like quality rest. Medical
assistance is usually needed for habitual snorers to
get a good night's sleep.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the
mouth and nose is physically obstructed. The walls
of the throat vibrate during breathing, resulting in
the distinctive sounds of snoring. Air flow can be
obstructed by a combination of factors, including:
-
Obstructed nasal airways: Partially
blocked nasal passages require extra effort to
transfer air through them while sleeping. This
can pull together or collapse the non-rigid soft
and dangling tissue of the throat, resulting in
snoring. Some people snore only during allergy
seasons or when they have a sinus infection.
Deformities of the nose such as a deviated
septum (a structural change in the wall that
separates one nostril from the other) or nasal
polyps can also cause obstruction and sleep
problems.
-
Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue:
Throat and tongue muscles can be too relaxed,
which allows them to collapse and fall back into
the airway. This can result from deep sleep,
alcohol, and some sleeping pills. Normal aging
causes further relaxation of these muscles and
increases the potential for snoring.
-
Bulky throat tissue: Being overweight can
cause bulky throat tissue. Also, children with
large tonsils and adenoids often snore.
-
Long soft palate and/or uvula: A long
soft palate or a long uvula (the dangling tissue
in back of the mouth) can narrow the opening
from the nose to the throat. When these
structures vibrate and bump against one another
during sleep, the airway becomes obstructed
causing snoring.
What Are the Health
Risks Associated With Snoring?
Habitual snorers can be at risk for serious health
problems. Obstructive sleep apnea is an illness that
is often associated with chronic snorers. This
condition creates several problems, including:
Long
interruptions of breathing (more than 10 seconds)
during sleep caused by partial or total obstruction
or blockage of the airway. Serious cases can have
total blockage episodes hundreds of times per night.
Frequent waking from sleep, even though he or she
may not realize it.
Snorers with obstructive sleep apnea sleep lightly
to try to keep their throat muscles tense enough to
maintain airflow.
Blood oxygen levels are often lowered, which causes
the heart to pump harder and blood pressure to rise.
The result is a poor night's sleep, which leads to
drowsiness during the day and can interfere with the
persons quality of life. Prolonged suffering from
obstructed sleep apnea will result in higher blood
pressure and may cause enlargement of the heart,
with higher risks of heart attack and stroke.
What Snoring
Treatments Are Available?
If
you occasionally snore, you can try the following
behavior changes to help control the problem:
-
Lose weight and improve your eating habits.
-
Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and
antihistamines before you go to bed.
-
Avoid alcohol, heavy meals, or snacks at least
four hours before you sleep.
-
Establish regular sleeping patterns. For
example, try to go to bed at the same time every
night.
-
Sleep on your side rather than on your back.
-
Tilt the head of your bed up four inches.
If
none of the above mentioned behavioral changes help,
talk to your doctor.
Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors)
offer a variety of treatment options that may reduce
or eliminate snoring or sleep apnea.
There are more than 300 devices on the market to
help prevent snoring; however, none of these devices
address all of the underlying anatomical problems
that cause snoring (such as nasal obstruction and
being overweight). Surgery may be needed to correct
physical problems. Snoring and sleep apnea surgeries
include:
-
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): A surgical
treatment that tightens and restructures the
flabby tissues in the throat and palate. This is
often prescribed for people who have moderate or
severe obstructive sleep apnea.
-
Laser-assisted uvula palatoplasty (LAUP): A
laser procedure removes the airway obstruction.
This treatment is performed under local
anesthesia in a doctor's office and is intended
for snorers and for people with mild obstructive
sleep apnea.
-
Somnoplasty: This is a minimally invasive
procedure that uses radio frequency energy to
shrink excessive tissue in the palate, uvula,
and tongue tissue. This treatment can also be
used to relieve nasal obstruction.
-
Genioglossus and hyoid advancement: This is a
surgical treatment for sleep apnea which
prevents the collapse of the lower throat by
pulling the tongue forward.
-
Septoplasty and turbinate surgery: This is a
surgical treatment to reduce the resistance to
the flow of air through the nose.
-
Tonsillectomy: Removing the tonsils and adenoids
may be needed to prevent snoring, particularly
in children.
Other Treatment
Options
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP):
A
patient may be fitted with a nasal mask which forces
air through the upper airway. The air pressure is
adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the
upper airway tissues from collapsing during sleep.
The pressure is constant and continuous. This should
help the person breathe better and sleep through the
night.
©
WebMD. All rights reserved.
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Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the
mouth and nose is physically obstructed. |
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