Snoring and Sleep Disorders

Did you know?

45 percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are habitual snorers. However, problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight persons, and usually grows worse with age.

There are more than 300 registered patents in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as cures for snoring, many of which are variations on the old idea of sewing a sock holding a tennis ball on the pajama back to force the snorer to sleep on his side. (Snoring is often worse when a person sleeps on his back). Some devices reposition the lower jaw forward; some open nasal air passages; a few others have been designed to condition a person not to snore by producing unpleasant stimuli when snoring occurs. Nevertheless, the truth about snoring is that it is not under your control whatsoever. The majority of anti-snoring devices work only because they keep you awake.

What Causes Snoring?

The noisy sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the collapsible part of the airway (see illustration) where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Snoring occurs when these structures strike each other and vibrate during breathing.

People who snore may suffer from:

• Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat. When muscles are too relaxed, either from alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness, the tongue falls backwards into the airway or the throat muscles draw in from the sides into the airway. This can also happen during deep sleep.
• Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue. Children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Overweight people have bulky neck tissue, too. Cysts or tumors can also cause bulk, but they are rare.
• Long soft palate and/or uvula. A long palate narrows the opening from the nose into the throat. As it dangles, it acts as a noisy flutter valve during relaxed breathing. A long uvula makes matters even worse.
• Obstructed nasal airways. A stuffy or blocked nose requires extra effort to pull air through it. This creates an exaggerated vacuum in the throat, and pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat, and snoring results. So, snoring often occurs only during the hay fever season or with a cold or sinus infection.
• Also, deformities of the nose or nasal septum, such as a deviated septum (a deformity of the wall that separates one nostril from the other) can cause such an obstruction.

Is Snoring Serious?

Ohio ENT & Allergy asserts that snoring can be a serious problem both socially and medically! Socially, a snorer may become the cause of resentfulness as a result of contributing to others sleepless nights. But more importantly, medically, snoring disturbs sleeping patterns and deprives the snorer of appropriate rest. When snoring is severe, it can also cause long-term health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

What is obstructive sleep apnea you ask? When loud snoring is interrupted by frequent episodes of completely obstructed breathing, it is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Serious episodes last more than ten seconds each and occur more than seven times per hour. Apnea patients may experience 30 to 300 of such events per night. These episodes can reduce blood oxygen levels, causing the heart to pump harder.

However, the immediate effect of sleep apnea is that the snorer must sleep lightly and keep his muscles tense in order to keep airflow to the lungs. Because the snorer does not get an ample amount of rest, he or she may be sleepy during the day, which may impair job performance and make he or she a hazardous driver or equipment operator. More serious yet, after many years with this disorder, elevated blood pressure and heart enlargement may occur.

Can Heavy Snoring be Cured?

Heavy snorers, those who snore in any position or are disruptive to the family, should seek medical advice to ensure that sleep apnea is not a problem. Patients should be referred to an otolaryngologist to provide a thorough examination of the nose, mouth, throat, palate, and neck. A sleep study in a laboratory environment may also be necessary to determine how serious the snoring is, and what effects it has on the snorer's health.

Snoring Treatment

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. An examination can reveal the cause of snoring, whether it is nasal allergies, infection, deformity, or tonsils and adenoids.

Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea may respond to various treatments now offered by many otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons, these include:

• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery for treating obstructive sleep apnea. It tightens flabby tissues in the throat and palate, and expands air passages.
• Genioglossus and hyoid advancement is a surgical procedure for the treatment of sleep apnea. It prevents collapse of the lower throat and pulls the tongue muscles forward, thereby opening the obstructed airway.

If surgery is too risky or unwanted, the patient may sleep every night with a nasal mask that delivers air pressure into the throat; this is called continuous positive airway pressure or "CPAP".

A chronically snoring child should be examined for problems with his or her tonsils and adenoids. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy may be required to return the child to full health.

Self-Help for the Light Snorer

Ohio ENT & Allergy recommends that adults who suffer from mild or occasional snoring try the following self-help remedies:

• Adopt a healthy and athletic lifestyle to develop good muscle tone and lose weight.
• Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines before bedtime.
• Avoid alcohol for at least four hours and heavy meals or snacks for three hours before retiring.
• Establish regular sleeping patterns
• Sleep on your side rather than your back.
• Tilt the head of your bed upwards four inches.

REMEMBER: snoring means obstructed breathing, and obstruction can be serious. Do not hesitate to contact your physician; it is not funny, and not hopeless.

The information provided above is for general use only, and medical decisions should not be made without consulting a physician. The information is provided by The American Academy of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Foundation.