Snoring 101: Sawing wood and You

-What is Snoring?

When we are asleep, the area at the back of the throat sometimes narrows. The same amount of air passing through this smaller opening can cause the tissues surrounding the opening to vibrate, which in turn causes the sounds of snoring.

-What causes Snoring?

Snoring is caused by restrictions in a person's air passages. This narrowing is usually contributed to the muscles in your mouth and throat relaxing during sleep, and obstructing the airway.

This can be caused by a variety of things, including:

• Mouth anatomy. Having a low, thick soft palate or enlarged tonsils or tissues in the back of your throat (adenoids) can narrow your airway. Likewise, if the uvula (triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate) is elongated, airflow can be obstructed and vibration increased. Being overweight also contributes to narrowing of your airway.

• Alcohol consumption. Snoring can also be brought on by consuming too much alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes throat muscles and decreases your natural defenses against airway obstruction.

• Nasal problems. Chronic nasal congestion or a crooked partition between your nostrils (deviated nasal septum).
  

• Sleep apnea. Snoring may also be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. In this serious condition, your throat tissues obstruct your airway, preventing you from breathing. Sleep apnea is often characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence that can last 10 seconds or more, which usually means the person has stopped breathing. Sometimes, complete obstruction does not occur, but rather, while still snoring, the airway becomes so small that the airflow is inadequate for your needs. Eventually, the lack of oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide signal you to wake up, forcing your airway open with a loud snort or gasping sound. This pattern may be repeated many times during the night

-How common is Snoring?

Any person can snore. Studies estimate that 45% of men and 30% of women snore on a regular basis. However, people who do not regularly snore will report snoring after a viral illness, after drinking alcohol, or when taking some medications.

-Why is Snoring a problem?

Snoring sometimes can be the only sign of a more serious problem. People who snore should be evaluated to be certain that other problems such as sleep apnea, sleeping problems, or sleep related breathing problems. Untreated, persistent snoring caused by obstructive sleep apnea may raise your lifetime risk of developing such health problems as high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke. The repeated lack of oxygen can even cause instant death. In children, obstructive sleep apnea may increase the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

-What can you do to prevent Snoring?

There are a wide range of treatments for snoring, ranging from simple home remedies to surgery or medical equipment.

The main categories of non-surgical treatments are:

• Behavioral changes: losing weight, changing sleeping positions, avoiding alcohol, quitting smoking, and changing medications that may be the cause of snoring.
  
  
• Dental devices: dental devices have been developed that hold the jaw forward, since the tongue is attached in the front to the jaw, the tongue also is held forward when these devices are used
  
  
• Nasal devices and medications: Breath-rite strips, nasal sprays (steroid and decongestant)
  
  
• Nasal CPAP (Continuous positive airway ressure): wearing a pressurized mask over your nose while you sleep, attached to a small pump that forces air through your airway, which keeps it open

There are also a variety of surgeries that can be done to treat snoring, including laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). These should be discussed thoroughly with your doctor before proceeding.


------*Sources*--------
MedicineNet.com
MayoClinic.com
WebMD
The Stanford Sleep Book