Choose the content to read
- What are the symptoms of snoring?
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- What causes snoring?
- Risk factors
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Prevention and home remedies
- Note from MedPark’s Doctors
Snoring
Snoring is a rhythmic rumbling, gasping, or snorting sound arising from breathing while asleep. If snoring is loud and disturbing, it may be indicative of obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to more health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.
What are the symptoms of snoring?
Snoring is a common occurrence for many individuals. When snoring is accompanied by symptoms such as restless sleep, dyspnea, nocturnal chest pain, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, a sore throat upon waking up, loss of concentration, or high blood pressure, these signs may suggest the presence of obstructive sleep apnea. Children with this condition can present with a poor attention span, subpar school performance, and behavioral problems.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
OSA, or obstructive sleep apnea, is characterized by snoring with diminished airflow due to the relaxation of throat muscles that obstruct the airway during sleep. OSA results in a recurring pattern of interrupted breathing while sleeping. This condition leads to reduced oxygen levels, prompting the brain to send neural signals for more forceful breathing to reopen the obstructed airways. Consequently, this can lead to compromised sleep quality and an elevated risk of various health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, paralysis, and depression.
What causes snoring?
Several factors can contribute to snoring, including the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, alcohol intake, allergies, a cold, and body weight. When transitioning from light to deep sleep, the muscles in the soft palate, tongue, and throat relax, potentially leading to partial airway obstruction and vibration in the throat tissues. The narrower your airway becomes, the more forceful the airflow is, intensifying tissue vibration and consequently increasing the snoring sound volume.
Mouth Anatomy
A small chin, short neck, low, thick, soft palate, or excess throat tissues in overweight individuals can narrow the airway. An elongated uvula, the triangular tissue hanging from the backend of the soft palate, can obstruct airflow and amplify vibration.
Alcohol Consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption before bedtime relaxes throat muscles, reducing natural defenses against airway obstruction and promoting snoring.
Nasal Problems
Chronic nasal congestion from allergic rhinitis or a deviated nasal septum may contribute to snoring by impeding normal airflow.
Sleep Deprivation
Inadequate sleep can lead to heightened throat relaxation, potentially exacerbating snoring.
Sleep Position
Snoring is often more pronounced when sleeping on the back, as gravitational force on the throat tends to narrow the airway.
Risk factors
- Gender: Men are more likely to snore and have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea.
- Weight: Individuals who are overweight or obese have an increased tendency to snore or develop obstructive sleep apnea.
- Airway anatomy: A narrow airway, large tonsils, or adenoids can contribute to airway constriction and, consequently, snoring. Structural airway abnormalities like a deviated septum or chronic nasal congestion increase the risk of snoring.
- Alcohol consumption: The consumption of alcohol relaxes throat muscles, heightening the probability of snoring.
- Family History: A familial background marked by loud snoring or obstructive sleep apnea implies a genetic predisposition, potentially elevating the susceptibility to developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
When to see a doctor?
If you snore loudly with frequent disruptions of your sleep, or you have suspected symptoms of OSA, consult with a sleep medicine specialist.
Diagnosis
History and physical exam
During your medical evaluation, your doctor will ask for your medical history and perform a physical examination to identify any signs or symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Your doctor may also inquire about your snoring patterns, obtaining information from your partner, if applicable, to assess the severity of the condition. If the evaluation involves a child who snores, the doctor will ask about the frequency and seriousness of the snoring.
Sleep Test
Sleep Test can be done at home or the sleep center, depending on your symptoms. A sleep diagnostic study called polysomnography will record your brain waves, blood oxygen level, heart rate, breathing, sleep stages, and eye and leg movement throughout the study.
Imaging test
An X-ray, a CT scan, or an MRI can capture images of your airway to assess if you have airway structural problems such as a deviated septum.
Treatment
- Lifestyle modification: This includes losing weight, having adequate sleep, adjusting your sleeping position, refraining from drinking alcohol before bedtime, and having chronic nasal congestion from allergies treated.
If the snoring is due to obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend:
- Oral appliances that can keep your airway open. However, they can cause facial discomfort, jaw pain, excessive salivation, and dry mouth.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can treat snoring related to obstructive sleep apnea. You must wear a special mask connected to a machine that sends pressurized air into your airway to keep it open during sleep.
- Non-ablation Er-YAG laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) involves thermal processing of the relaxed soft palate and surrounding tissue with Er-YAG laser, resulting in favorable collagen contraction and formation of new collagen fibers. The procedure is safe and effective in reducing snoring and enlarging the airway caliber. Also, it can be performed as an outpatient procedure.
- Upper airway surgery, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) to trim the excess tissues in your throat, or a maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery to move your upper and lower jaws forward to open the airway. Radiofrequency tissue ablation utilizes radiofrequency energy to reduce tissue thickness in the soft palate, tongue, or nose. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation prevents the tongue from obstructing the airway during breathing.
Prevention and home remedies
- Keep a healthy weight. Overweight people have extra tissues in the throat, which contributes to snoring. Weight loss can be effective in reducing snoring.
- Sleep on your side. Resting on your back allows your tongue to fall backward, narrowing the airway and causing partial airflow obstruction. If you have a tendency to shift to your back during the night, you can experiment with sewing a tennis ball into the back of your pajama top.
- Elevate the head of your bed by approximately 4 inches to improve airflow. A snore-reducing pillow can also keep your head in a proper position.
- Refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages for at least two hours before bedtime and inform your doctor about your snoring before taking sedatives. Both sedatives and alcohol depress the central nervous system, leading to the over-relaxation of muscles, including those in the throat.
- Avoid sleep deprivation. Sleep a minimum of 7 hours every night.
- Smoking cessation can help alleviate snoring.
- Nasal strips can expand the nasal passage and improve breathing. An external nasal dilator, a rigid adhesive strip placed externally across the nostrils, can reduce airflow resistance, making breathing more comfortable. However, nasal strips and external nasal dilators may not be effective for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea.
- Address nasal congestion or obstruction due to allergies or a deviated septum.
Preparation before the appointment
- List your symptoms. You may ask your partner to describe your symptoms while you are sleeping.
- Write down questions that you would like to ask your doctor.
For example:- Why do I snore? Are there any underlying medical conditions?
- Do I have to undergo any tests?
- What is a sleep test?
- What treatments do you recommend? Are there any side effects?
- Prepare answers for the questions that your doctor may ask you.
For example:- When did you first notice that you snore?
- When did you first begin snoring?
- Do you snore consistently every night or only occasionally?
- What seems to improve or worsen your symptoms?
- Is your snoring related to your sleeping position?
- Does your snoring disturb your partner?
- Do you find yourself snorting, choking, or gasping when waking up during the night?
- Are you experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness?
FAQ
- How can I know if I snore?
Ask your partner, roommate, or family member to notice if you snore. If you live alone, use a voice recorder. - Is snoring an indication of obstructive sleep apnea?
While snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, it does not necessarily mean you have the condition. Snoring can be due to many other factors and reasons. - Should I be concerned if my baby snores?
It is not uncommon for babies to snore, usually due to a stuffy nose. In most cases, it is not a sign of a severe condition. However, if you are worried or uncertain, scheduling a visit with the baby's pediatrician is advisable. They can assess the reason for the snoring and determine if any treatment is necessary.
Note from MedPark’s Doctors
Consistent and loud snoring that interferes with your sleep may indicate a noteworthy issue, especially when accompanied by daytime fatigue, irritability, headaches, or episodes of gasping for air during sleep. Seeking the expertise of a Sleep Medicine specialist is recommended to evaluate the underlying reasons for your snoring and to receive appropriate treatment.
