Snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound that occurs when breathing is partially obstructed in some way while sleeping.
Sometimes snoring may indicate serious health condition. In addition, snoring can disturb others sleep. As many as half of the adults’ snore.
Snoring occur when air flows over relaxed tissue resulting in its vibration creating annoying sound during snoring. Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol close to the bed time can help stop snoring.
In addition, medical devices and surgery are available that may reduce disruptive snoring.
Many factors such as anatomy of mouth and sinuses, alcohol consumption, allergies and weight can cause snoring.
During deep sleep muscles in the roof of mouth relax and tissues in throat can relax enough that they partially block airway and causes vibrations.
The more narrowed airway, the more powerful airflow becomes. The following conditions can affect airways airway and cause snoring:
Alcohol consumption
Snoring can also occur because of consumption of too much alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes muscles of throat and decreases the natural resistance against snoring.
Nasal problems
Chronic nasal congestion or a crooked partition between nostrils may contribute to snoring.
Sleep deprivation
Not getting enough sleep can lead to further throat relaxation.
Sleep position
Snoring is notably the most while sleeping on back as the effect of gravity on throat further narrows the throat.
Obstructive sleep apnea
Snoring may also be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. In this condition the tissues completely obstruct airway. People with obstructive sleep apnea experience periods when there is partial slowing of breath or completely stops breathing for few movements.
4 Making a Diagnosis
To establish diagnosis of snoring doctor will take a note of signs and symptoms followed by physical and mental examination.
Some imaging tests such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to analyze airway problems and reveal obstruction.
Sleep study will also be conducted depending on the condition of the patient, sleep study can be conducted at home or in sleep center.
Polysomnography is the method used to study sleep. Which determines
brain waves,
oxygen levels,
heart rate
and breathing rate.
Doctor will analyze the report and establish diagnosis.
To treat snoring doctor might first recommend lifestyle changes, such as
losing weight and avoiding alcohol abuse,
treating nasal decongestion,
avoiding sleep deprivation.
Some of the following methods are used to treat snoring:
Oral appliances
Oral appliances are form-fitting dental mouthpieces that help advance the position of jaw, tongue and soft palate to keep your air passage open.
Continuous positive airway pressure
This approach involves wearing a mask on your nose while you sleep this mask allows a counter force preventing the muscles from blocking the airway.
Palatal implants
In this procedure, known as the pillar procedure, doctors inject braided strands of polystyrene filament into soft palate, which stiffens soft palate and reduces snoring.
Traditional surgery
Asurgery called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is performed. In this surgery surgeons tighten and trim excessive tissue.
Laser surgery
In laser assisted uvuopalatopharyngoplasty, doctor uses laser to shorten the excessive tissue present.
Somnoplasty
In this outpatient procedure, anesthesia will be administered and doctors use a low intensity radiofrequency signal to shrink tissue in the soft palate to help reduce snoring.
6 Prevention
To prevent snoring one must follow these following steps:
A few alternative remedies exist for snoring, which include:
Playing some music instruments:Playing didgeridoo, a musical instrument the produces droning sound, may help train muscles of the upper respiratory tract and increase their tension leading to less snoring. Research has shown that those people who played the instrument for about 25 minutes a day most days of the week experienced less snoring. Larger trials are needed to conform the result.
Singing: Singing may help increase the tone of muscles. Which will help in reducing snoring.
8 Lifestyle and Coping
Lifestyle modifications are necessary in order to cope with snoring. These include:
Lose weight: Obesity can lead to relaxation of muscle and will develop snoring.
Sleep position: Maintaining proper sleep position will help the muscles to stay in their position prevent snoring.
Head position: Keeping head raised a little with the help of pillow will prevent snoring, nasal strips- use nasal strips to relive nasal decongestion and avoid snoring.
Nasal congestion: Using medications to decrease nasal congestion will reduce chances of snoring, avoid smoking and give body adequate rest.
9 Risks and Complications
Risk factors of snoring are:
Being a man: Men are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea than compared with women.
Being obese: Excessive weight may contribute to the development of snoring.
Drinking alcohol: Alcohol relaxes muscles of throat leading to the development of snoring.
Having nasal problems: Structural defects in nose and chronic congestion of nose can contribute to the development of snoring.
Habitual snoring may cause disturbance to others. If snoring is caused by obstructive sleep apnea the following complications might develop:
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