Snoring

Although often depicted as cute or comic in television shows, theater and movies, snoring is not funny. It can disturb sound, restful sleep both for the person snoring and anyone within earshot of his or her rough, hoarse, nightly orchestrations. About 35 million Americans snore at some time, to some degree, during sleep.

The snoring sound occurs through a fairly complex, mechanical process. The first requirement is a narrowing of the upper airway passages or a looseness or flapping in the throat. Narrow upper air passages force a person to work harder at breathing during sleep, pulling in air with greater force to try to overcome the narrowing, or obstruction. Greater airflow through a narrow or obstructed passage causes a drop in pressure, pulling the walls of the throat inward. The flexible walls of the throat begin to recoil and vibrate, setting off the sound we know as snoring.

Snoring can be caused by one factor or by many, depending on the individual. And, it can be it's own problem or indicate other medical conditions, some of them serious. The list of causes and aggravating factors is a lengthy one. Leading the list of causes is a narrowing of the upper air passages from an increase in size of throat tissues, such as large tonsils and adenoids; an enlarged or long uvula; an enlarged tongue; an increased neck size, especially in people who are overweight; narrowed nasal passages, from allergies, infection, polyps or tumors; and a deviated septum. Other causes and aggravating factors include obesity, poor muscle tone in the throat, fatigue, medication, alcohol consumption, smoking and sleeping on your back.

Because snoring is a breathing problem, it can mean you get less oxygen during sleep, causing you to wake up feeling tired. In many cases, snoring can be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous medical condition in which breathing actually stops for 10 seconds to more than a minute, hundreds of times a night. "Apnea" is a Greek word that means "without breath." This interruption in breathing lowers oxygen levels and raises carbon dioxide levels in the blood, a condition doctors call hypoxia.

Sleep apnea can have serious consequences for someone with a heart condition or circulatory problem; for others, it can mean chronic fatigue -- affecting work and home life. In fact, the fatigue from sleep apnea boosts the risk of traffic accidents sevenfold, a risk eclipsed only by driving while intoxicated. Ten to 15 percent of people who snore have obstructive sleep apnea to a mild, moderate or severe degree.

What to Do

If your snoring is loud enough or frequent enough to disturb others in your home, or if it leaves you feeling fatigued during the hours of the day during which you need to be awake and alert, make an appointment to see your physician. Your health care provider may make several suggestions or may recommend that you see a specialist for an evaluation of your problem. If you feel chronically tired during the day, ask your sleeping partner or housemates whether you snore. Keep a sleep diary, recording the time you go to bed, the time you awaken, how you felt the next day and whether you recall awakening during the night. Record whether you had a large meal or drank alcohol within a few hours of bedtime and whether you had symptoms of a cold or allergy, and which, if any, medications you took, including over-the-counter medications.

Use Medicine Effectively

Depending on the cause of your snoring, a physician may prescribe medication. If nasal allergies or infection is causing the problem, effective medicines are available. If you're taking over-the-counter medications to help you sleep, stop and call your health care provider to discuss. If you have allergies or a cold, take over-the-counter medications, when appropriate. If you smoke, your provider also may prescribe medication to help you quit smoking. A specialist may prescribe a special mask, known as a CPAP device, to be worn at night. The device creates constant positive air pressure on your upper airway.

Other Treatements for Snoring

The American Academy of Otolaryngology says other possible treamtents for snoring. include: Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP), a surgical procedure that removes tissue obstructing the airway and Injection snoreplasty, a nonsurgical treatment for snoring that involves injecting a hardening agent into the upper palate.

Self-care Steps for Snoring

• If you’re overweight by 10% or more, try to lose weight if you're overweight by 10 to 20 percent of your body weight.

• If you smoke, quit.

• Sleep on your side or stomach; sleeping on your back can worsen snoring.

• Do not eat a large meal or drink alcohol within three hours of bedtime

• Be careful about using over-the-counter devices and medications to stop snoring unless advised to try one by your health care provider.

• Cut back on caffeine or cut it out.