Description

Snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound that occurs when air flows relaxed tissues in the throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe. Nearly everyone snores now and then, but for some people it can be a chronic problem. Sometimes it may also indicate a serious health condition. In addition, snoring can be a nuisance for your partner.

Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime or sleeping on your side, can help stop snoring.

In addition, medical devices and surgery are available that may reduce disruptive snoring. However, these are not suitable or necessary for all those who snore.

Symptoms

Snoring is often associated with a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Not all snorers have OSA, but if snoring is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it may be an indication to see a doctor for further evaluation for OSA:

  • Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
  • Excessive sleepiness during the day
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Morning headaches
  • Sore throat upon awakening
  • Restless sleep
  • Gasping or choking at night
  • High blood pressure
  • Pain in the chest in the night
  • The snoring is so high interrupting your partner's sleep
  • In children, poor attention span, problems of conduct or poor performance in school

OSA is often characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing stops or nearly stops. Finally, this reduction or pause in breathing can be a sign that you wake up, and you may awaken with a loud snort or gasping sound.

You can sleep slightly due to the alteration of the dream. This pattern of breathing pauses can be repeated many times during the night.

People with obstructive sleep apnea often experience periods when breathing slows or stops for at least five times during each hour of sleep.

When to see a doctor

Consult your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. These may indicate the snoring is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

If your child snores, talk to your pediatrician about it. The children may have OSA, too. The nose and throat problems, such as enlarged tonsils and obesity can often define a son of the respiratory tract, which can lead to your child developing OSA.

Causes

Snoring can be caused by a number of factors, such as the anatomy of the mouth and sinuses, alcohol consumption, allergies, a cold, and your weight.

When you doze off and progress from a light sleep to a deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of the mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat relax. The tissues in the throat can relax enough that they partially block your airway and vibrate.

The greatest narrowing of the airways, the stronger the flow of air becomes. This increases the tissue vibration, which causes your snoring to grow louder.

The following conditions can affect the airway and cause snoring:

  • Anatomy of the mouth. Having a low, thick soft palate can narrow the airways. People who are overweight may have extra tissues in the back of the throat which can narrow the airways. In the same way, if the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula) is elongated, airflow can be obstructed and vibration increased.
  • The consumption of Alcohol. Snoring can also be caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and decreases your body's natural defenses against airway obstruction.
  • Nasal problems. Chronic nasal congestion or a partition twisted between your nostrils (deviated nasal septum) may contribute to your snoring.
  • Sleep deprivation. Not enough sleep can lead to the throat of relaxation.
  • The sleeping position. Snoring is typically more frequent and stronger, to sleep in the back of the severity of the effect in the throat narrows the airways.

Risk factors

The risk factors that can contribute to snoring include:

  • Be a man. Men are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea than women.
  • The overweight. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to snore or have obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Have a narrow airway. Some people may have a long soft palate, or large tonsils or adenoids, which can narrow the airway and cause snoring.
  • The consumption of alcohol. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, which increases the risk of snoring.
  • Having nasal problems. If you have a structural defect in the respiratory tract, such as a deviated septum, or your nose is chronically congested, the risk of snoring is greater.
  • Having a family history of snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. The inheritance is a potential risk factor for OSA.

Complications

Habitual snoring can be more than a nuisance. Apart from the disruption of a bed partner's sleep, if the snoring is associated with OSA, you may be at risk of other complications, including:

  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Frequent frustration or anger
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • An increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke
  • An increase in the risk of behavior problems, such as aggression or learning problems, in children with OSAS
  • An increased risk of motor vehicle accidents due to the lack of sleep

Diagnosis

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will review your signs and symptoms, and your medical history. Your doctor will also perform a physical exam.

Your doctor may ask your partner some questions about how and when you snore to help assess the severity of the problem. If your child snores, you will be asked about the severity of your child's snoring.

Images

Your doctor may order an imaging test, like an x-ray, ct scan, or magnetic resonance imaging. These tests check the structure of the respiratory tract problems, such as a deviation of the nasal septum.

Sleep study

Depending on the severity of your snoring and other symptoms, your doctor may want to perform a sleep study. Sleep studies may sometimes be done at home.

However, depending on your other medical problems and other sleep symptoms, you may need to spend the night in a sleep center to undergo an analysis in depth of breathing during sleep for a study, called a polysomnogram.

In a polysomnography, which is connected to many sensors and observed overnight. During the sleep study, the following information is logged:

  • Brain waves
  • Oxygen level in blood
  • Heart rate
  • The frequency of the breathing
  • Stages of sleep
  • The eyes and the movements of the legs

Treatment

For the treatment of your snoring, your doctor will probably first recommend lifestyle changes, such as:

  • Lose weight
  • Avoid drinking alcohol close to bedtime
  • The treatment of nasal congestion
  • Avoid sleep deprivation
  • Avoid sleeping on your back

For the snoring accompanied by OSA, your doctor may suggest:

  • Oral appliances.Oral appliances are of the form-fitting dental mouthpieces that help to improve the position of your jaw, tongue and soft palate to keep your air passage open. If you choose to use an oral appliance, you will work with your dental specialist to optimize the fit and the position of the device. You are also going to work with your sleep specialist to make sure that the oral appliance is working as intended. Visits to the dentist may be required at least once every six months during the first year, and then at least once a year after that, to have the adjustment checked, and to evaluate your oral health. Excessive salivation, dry mouth, pain in the jaw and the face of discomfort are the possible side effects of using these devices.
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).This approach involves the use of a mask over the nose or mouth during sleep. The mask directs air pressure from a small bedside table from the pump to the airway to keep it open during sleep. CPAP (SEE-pap) eliminates snoring and is most often used for the treatment of snoring when associated with OSA. Although CPAP is the most reliable and effective method of treatment of OSA, some people find it uncomfortable or have trouble adjusting to the noise or feel of the machine.
  • Upper airway surgery.There are a number of procedures that seek to open the upper airway and prevent significant narrowing during sleep through a variety of techniques. For example, in a procedure called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), you are given general anesthesia and the surgeon tightens and cuts away the excess tissues in the throat — a type of face-lift of his throat. Another procedure, called maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) involves displacement of the upper and lower jaw forward, which helps to open the airways. Radiofrequency tissue ablation uses a low intensity of the rf signal to reduce the tissue in the soft palate, the tongue, or the nose. A new surgical technique called nerve stimulation hypoglossal employs a stimulus applied to the nerve that controls the forward movement of the tongue so that the tongue does not obstruct the airway when you take a breath. The efficacy of these surgeries varies, and the answer may be difficult to predict.

Oral appliances. Oral appliances are of the form-fitting dental mouthpieces that help to improve the position of your jaw, tongue and soft palate to keep your air passage open.

If you choose to use an oral appliance, you will work with your dental specialist to optimize the fit and the position of the device. You are also going to work with your sleep specialist to make sure that the oral appliance is working as intended. Visits to the dentist may be required at least once every six months during the first year, and then at least once a year after that, to have the adjustment checked, and to evaluate your oral health.

Excessive salivation, dry mouth, pain in the jaw and the face of discomfort are the possible side effects of using these devices.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This approach involves the use of a mask over the nose or mouth during sleep. The mask directs air pressure from a small bedside table from the pump to the airway to keep it open during sleep.

CPAP (SEE-pap) eliminates snoring and is most often used for the treatment of snoring when associated with OSA.

Although CPAP is the most reliable and effective method of treatment of OSA, some people find it uncomfortable or have trouble adjusting to the noise or feel of the machine.

Upper airway surgery. There are a number of procedures that seek to open the upper airway and prevent significant narrowing during sleep through a variety of techniques.

For example, in a procedure called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), you are given general anesthesia and the surgeon tightens and cuts away the excess tissues in the throat — a type of face-lift of his throat. Another procedure, called maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) involves displacement of the upper and lower jaw forward, which helps to open the airways. Radiofrequency tissue ablation uses a low intensity of the rf signal to reduce the tissue in the soft palate, the tongue, or the nose.

A new surgical technique called nerve stimulation hypoglossal employs a stimulus applied to the nerve that controls the forward movement of the tongue so that the tongue does not obstruct the airway when you take a breath.

The efficacy of these surgeries varies, and the answer may be difficult to predict.

Lifestyle and home remedies

To prevent or quiet snoring, try these tips:

  • If you are overweight, lose weight. People who are overweight may have more of the tissues in the throat that contribute to snoring. Losing weight can help to reduce snoring.
  • Sleeping on your side. Lying on your back allows your tongue to fall back into your throat, narrowing the airway and partial obstruction of air flow. Try sleeping on your side. If you find that you always end up in the back in the middle of the night, try sewing a tennis ball in the back of your pajamas.
  • Raise the head of your bed. Elevate the head of your bed by about 4 inches may help.
  • Nasal strips or an external nasal dilator. Adhesive strips applied to the bridge of the nose to help many people increase the area of their nostrils, which improves your breathing. A dilator nasal is a stiffened adhesive strip applied externally through the nostrils, which can help decrease the resistance to the flow of air to breathe easier. The nasal strips, and external dilators nasal are not effective for people with OSA, however.
  • The treatment of nasal congestion or obstruction.Have allergies or a deviated septum can limit the flow of air through the nose. This forces you to breathe through the mouth, increasing the likelihood of snoring. Ask your doctor about a prescription steroid spray if you have chronic congestion. To correct a structural defect in the respiratory tract, such as a deviated septum, you may need surgery.
  • Limit or avoid alcohol and sedatives. Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages by at least two hours before going to sleep, and let your doctor know about your snoring before taking sedatives. Sedatives and alcohol depresses the central nervous system, causing excessive relaxation of muscles, including the tissues in the throat.
  • Stop smoking. Quitting smoking can reduce snoring, in addition to having numerous other health benefits.
  • Get enough sleep. Adults should consume at least seven hours of sleep per night. The recommended hours of sleep for children vary according to age. In preschool-aged children should get 10 to 13 hours a day. School-age children need nine to 12 hours per day, and adolescents should have eight to 10 hours a day.

The treatment of nasal congestion or obstruction. Have allergies or a deviated septum can limit the flow of air through the nose. This forces you to breathe through the mouth, increasing the likelihood of snoring.

Ask your doctor about a prescription steroid spray if you have chronic congestion. To correct a structural defect in the respiratory tract, such as a deviated septum, you may need surgery.

Alternative medicine

Because snoring is a common problem, there are many products available, such as nasal sprays or therapies homeopathic. However, most of the products has not been shown to be effective in clinical trials.

Coping and support

If your partner is the person who is snoring, you may sometimes feel frustrated, as well as fatigued. We propose some of the home remedies mentioned above, and if those don't help to calm your couple night make noise, have your partner make an appointment with the doctor.

In the meantime, the ear plugs or noise in the background, as a machine of white noise or a fan near the bed, can help mask the noise of snoring, and sleep more.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely that you first see your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the treatment of sleep disorders.

Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot to talk about, it is a good idea to get well prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing,including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Ask your partner to describe what he or she hears or notices in the night while you are sleeping. Or, better yet, ask your sleep partner to go with you to your appointment so that he or she can talk with your doctor about your symptoms.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, as well as any vitamins or supplements you are taking.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor.

Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Ask your partner to describe what he or she hears or notices in the night while you are sleeping.

Or, better yet, ask your sleep partner to go with you to your appointment so that he or she can talk with your doctor about your symptoms.

Your time with your doctor may be limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. For snoring, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What makes me snore when I sleep?
  • Is my snoring a sign of something more serious, such as the OSA?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • What happens during a sleep test?
  • What treatments are available for snoring, and which do you recommend?
  • What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?
  • Are there any alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • There are steps you can take on my own, that's going to help my snoring?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take my house? What sites do you recommend to visit?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

  • When you started snoring?
  • Do you snore every night or only once in a while?
  • Do you often wake up during the night?
  • Does anything seem to improve your snoring?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen snoring?
  • His snoring depend on the specific positions of sleep?
  • How loud is your snoring? Does it bother your bed partner? Can be heard outside of the room?
  • Does your bed partner always tell you that you have paused or irregularities in breathing during sleep?
  • Do you Snort, choke or gasp himself awake sleep?
  • What daytime symptoms you are experiencing, such as drowsiness?

What you can do in the meantime

While you're waiting to see your doctor, here are some tips that you can try:

  • Do not drink alcohol or sedatives before bedtime.
  • Try over-the-counter nasal strips.
  • Sleeping on your side instead of your back.
  • If the nasal congestion is a problem, try an over-the-counter decongestant for a day or two.
Symptoms and treatment of Snoring