Snoring: Common Causes And How to Treat Them

Snoring is a raspy or loud sound produced by air passing through relaxed tissues in the throat, causing the tissues to vibrate while you breathe. Snoring is something that almost everyone does from time to time, but for some people it can become a persistent problem. It might also be a sign of a major health problem. Furthermore, snoring can be a bother to your companion.

Losing weight, avoiding drinking close to bedtime, and sleeping on your side can all help you stop snoring.

Additionally, medical equipment and surgery are available to help with snoring problems. These, however, are not appropriate or necessary for everyone who snores.

Snoring is frequently linked to a sleep problem known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Not all snorers have OSA, but if your snoring is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor for an OSA evaluation:

• Breathing pauses were seen during sleep.
• Excessive drowsiness during the day
• Concentration problems
• Headaches in the morning
• When you wake up, you have a sore throat.
• Sleepless nights
• At night, you may find yourself gasping or coughing.
• Blood pressure that is too high
• Nighttime chest ache
• Your snoring is so loud that it’s waking up your partner.
• Low attention span, behavioral difficulties, or poor academic achievement in youngsters

Loud snoring is frequently associated with OSA, as are periods of quiet when breathing stops or nearly ceases. This reduction or pause in breathing may eventually cause you to wake up, and you may do so with a loud snort or gasp.

Because of the disruption in your sleep, you may only get a few hours of sleep. This breathing pause pattern may be repeated several times throughout the night.

At least five times during each hour of sleep, people with obstructive sleep apnea have periods when their breathing slows or stops.

Snoring can be caused by a variety of things, including your mouth and sinus structure, alcohol intake, allergies, a cold, and your weight.

The soft palate, tongue, and throat relax as you fall asleep and go from light to deep sleep. The tissues in your throat can loosen to the point where they partially block and vibrate your airway.

The airflow grows more strong the narrower your airway becomes. This causes your snoring to get louder by increasing tissue vibration.

The following conditions can produce snoring by affecting the airway:

• The structure of your mouth. Your airway can be narrowed if you have a low, thick soft palate. Obese people may have additional tissues in the back of their throats, causing their airways to shrink. Airflow can also be impeded and vibration increased if the triangular portion of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula) is extended.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages. Drinking too much alcohol before going to bed might also cause snoring. By relaxing your throat muscles, alcohol undermines your natural defenses against airway obstruction.
• Nasal problems. Chronic nasal congestion or a crooked barrier between your nostrils can both induce snoring (deviated nasal septum).
• A condition in which a person does not get enough sleep is known as sleep deprivation. Your throat will relax even more if you don’t get enough sleep.
• The best sleeping position. Snoring is most common and loudest when sleeping on your back due to gravity’s influence on the neck narrowing the airway.

Looking for sleep apnea monitoring, or sleep study monitors? Get in touch with Maxvalue today to learn more.