SNORING: CAUSES, TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT

OVERVIEW

Snoring is the hoarse, rattling or snorting sound that is heard when breathing is partially obstructed during sleep.Causes of snoring include: Age, nature, overweight, fatigue, sleep posture, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), certain medications, alcohol, smoking, etc. Treatment and management of snoring include: Lifestyle changes, use of anti-snoring devices and surgery (as a last resort)

 

Snoring

Most times, the airway becomes partially blocked by the uvula and soft palate or even the tongue, and as the air is forced out of the airway, these organs vibrate producing the snoring sound.

CAUSES

Snoring is caused by a whole lot of reasons. They are:

• Age: The throat and airway becomes narrower as we reach middle age and beyond. As such, snoring is more commonly noticed among people around this age

• Nature: Generally, men have narrower airways than women and so are more likely to snore

• Overweight: Overweight people usually have too much or “floppy” throat and nasal tissues that frequently obstruct the airway and is more prone to vibrate.

• Obstruction in the nasal passageway: Cold, and subsequent accumulation of mucous in the nose can lead to a blocked nasal airway. Sometimes, dirt trapped by our nasal hair can also contribute to this blockage

• Fatigue: During sleep, muscles relax to its fullest. When we go to bed very tired, our muscles over-relax, thereby leading to snoring

• Alcohol, Smoking and certain Medications: All these act by increasing muscle relaxation.

• Sleep posture: When we sleep flat on the back, the flesh of the throat and the tongue itself tend to roll back into our mouth, thereby blocking the airway and consequently leading to snoring. This is the major reason why a person who is snoring (probably lying on his back) is tapped or pushed to lie sideways. This will enable the tongue and throat tissues to fall front thereby clearing the airway.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Snoring can be a symptom of this disorder. This is a serious condition in which the airway is partially or, most times, completely blocked. OSA is characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing almost or completely stops. This breathing impairment may signal you to awake with a loud snort or gasping sound.

• Hereditary: Snoring is not inherited per se. It is the conditions and organs causing snoring that can be inherited. Such conditions could be a narrow throat, a cleft palate, enlarged adenoids or tonsils etc

Snoring occurs when the airway is partially or completely blocked during sleep

Snoring (whatever may be the cause) does not let us have enough sleep. It causes daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of focus and even decreased libido. It can also be a source of discomfort and disturbance to people around us, preventing them from having enough sleep too.

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Treatment can improve snoring in some cases, but a complete cure is not always possible.

Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, change in sleep posture, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and taking regular exercises are usually recommended first. 

There are also anti-snoring devices, such as mouth guards, nasal strips, dental appliances, CPAP etc that may help prevent snoring.

If anti-snoring devices don't help, then surgery may be an option. This often involves removing soft tissue that causes the snoring, or preventing the tissue from vibrating by causing it to tighten.

However, surgery for snoring is usually regarded as a last resort. It is important to be aware that surgery can often have a limited effect that doesn't last longer than one or two years and can cause unpleasant side effects or complications.

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