Snoring
Take it seriously
It can make one the object of ridicule and make anyone nearby experience sleepless nights and fatigue. Snoring is an affliction that affects 45 percent of adults on occasion, with 25 percent snoring habitually. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight people and usually worsens with age. The loud, harsh noise occurs when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the collapsible part of the airway where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Snoring occurs when these structures strike each other and vibrate during breathing. In children, snoring may be a sign of problems with the tonsils and adenoids. A chronically snoring child should be examined by an otolaryngologist, who may recommend a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy to return the child to full health. Because it disturbs sleeping patterns, snoring shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Sleep apnea
Snoring is often associated with a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. OSA is characterized by multiple episodes of breathing pauses greater than 10 seconds at a time, due to upper airway narrowing or collapse. This results in lower amounts of oxygen in the blood, which causes the heart to work harder. It also causes disruption of the natural sleep cycle, which makes people feel poorly rested despite adequate time in bed. Apnea patients may experience 30 to 300 such events per night. The immediate effect of sleep apnea is that the snorer must sleep lightly and keep the throat muscles tense in order to keep airflow to the lungs. Because the snorer does not get a good rest, he or she may be sleepy during the day, which impairs job performance and makes him or her a hazardous driver or equipment operator. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of developing heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and many other medical problems.
Sleep study
Not all snorers have obstructive sleep apnea, but Dr. Caris Fitzgerald of the UAMS Sleep Clinic says that snoring accompanied by certain symptoms, like high blood pressure, depression or daytime sleepiness, may be a sign of OSA. In children, however, snoring alone is reason for further evaluation of sleep and breathing. Dr. Fitzgerald says it is important to recognize that children are more likely not to show sleepiness with sleep apnea, but instead act out behaviorally or display problems with inattention. A medical sleep examination can best reveal if obstruction of the airway is likely present and what, if any, further testing is needed. Often a sleep study is necessary to make the diagnosis of OSA. During the sleep study, the patient’s brain waves, blood oxygen level and eye and leg movements are recorded. The study may be an unusual night, but most feel it is a small price to pay for adequate rest for themselves or their children.
Cut back on alcohol
Why do some people snore more than others? Men are more likely to snore than women. People who are overweight may have extra tissues in the back of their throats that narrow their airways, making them more likely to snore. So are people who have a long soft palate or large tonsils or adenoids. Both of these can narrow a person’s airway and cause snoring. Chronic nasal congestion or a crooked partition between your nostrils, known as a deviated nasal septum, may contribute to a person’s snoring. Snoring can also be brought on by consuming alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes throat muscles and decreases your defenses against airway obstruction. A person’s sleeping position can affect their snoring, which is typically most frequent and loudest when the person sleeps on their back as gravity’s effect on the throat narrows the airway. And unfortunately, not getting enough sleep can lead to further throat relaxation and snoring.
Try a tennis ball
If you or someone you know has a snoring problem, there are certain steps you can take to quiet the bedtime bluster. Weight loss and lying on your side may be helpful. When sleeping on your back the tongue is more likely to fall backward into your throat, narrowing your airway and possibly obstructing airflow. If you find that you always end up on your back in the middle of the night, try pinning a sock with tennis balls inside to the back of your pajama top. Adhesive strips applied to the bridge of the nose helps some people increase the area of their nasal passage, enhancing nasal flow and reducing the snore. Long term use of a daily nasal saline rinse is often helpful to reduce the amount of nasal inflammation present and may help with snoring as well. If your partner is the one who’s snoring, suggest some of these remedies. If they don’t help quiet the nocturnal noisemaking, it’s a good idea to have him or her make a doctor’s appointment.
Trusted by thousands of listeners every week, T. Glenn Pait, M.D., began offering expert advice as the host of UAMS’ “Here’s to Your Health” program in 1996. Dr. Pait began working at UAMS in 1994 and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years.