SNORING - When It Gets Serious?

Snoring doesn't only bother your partner but can affect your health too.  Almost 24 percent of women, 10-12 percent of children and 40 percent of men snore. To understand when this very common sign gets dangerous and starts affecting your health, let us understand what is snoring first -

" Snoring is a sound that occurs in the upper airway as you breathe in air. The unmistakable sound is a sign that your airway is partially blocked, usually by soft tissue in your throat. The flow of air causes the soft tissue to vibrate, generating the noise, which comes out of your nose, mouth or both. "

SNORING DOESN'T ONLY BOTHER YOUR PARTNER BUT CAN AFFECT YOUR HEALTH TOO

COMMON REASONS-

SNORING IS COMMON AMONG OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE

• Snoring is more common among overweight people.
• Sometimes pregnancy also causes snoring.
• Blockage in the nose caused by a crooked, bent, or deformed nasal septum (the structure that separates the nostrils)
• Cold or allergies that results in stuffed nose (especially if it lasts a long time), sometimes causes snoring.
• Use of sleeping pills, antihistamines, tobacco, sedatives or alcohol at bedtime.
• Some abnormalities in face structure also causes snoring.
• Sleeping flat on your back.

 SYMPTOMS -

Depending on the cause of your snoring, your symptoms may include:

• Noise during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sore throat
• Restless sleep
• Gasping or choking at night
• High blood pressure
• Chest pain at night

WHEN SNORING  TURNS SERIOUS  - 

Snoring is extremely common and, in many cases, relatively harmless.  But sometimes it is too loud and chokes your entire airway, causing a pause in your breathing. The blockage stops oxygen from reaching your organs including your heart and brain. When the blood-oxygen level drops low enough, the body momentarily wakes up. It can happen so fast that you may not be aware you woke up.  This symptom is also called Sleep Apnea.

SNORING RESULTS IN DAYTIME SLEEPINESS

So if you have  above symptom, visit the doctor and get it treated as it affects sleep and affects your health too.

WHO IS MORE PRONE TO SNORING -

Man - 40% of men are regular snorer compared to 24% of women.

Overweight - Obese and overweight people are more prone to snoring.

Narrow Airway - People with long soft palate, or large tonsils or adenoids can narrow the airway and cause snoring.

Alcohol - Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, increasing the risk of snoring.

Nasal Problem - Any structural defect in your nasal structure increases the risk of snoring.

Family History -  You are more prone to snoring if you have any family history of this defect.

RESULT OF SNORING -

DIFFICULTY IN CONCENTRATING AND LEARNING

Snoring during sleep affects your daily chores and mood.  As snoring destructs your sleep it results in daytime sleepiness.  Due to lack and destructed sleep you suffer from -

• Frequent frustration or anger and makes you aggressive.
• Difficulty in concentrating, learning.  
• Morning headaches and weight gain

Also snoring may result in increase in blood pressure and strokes.  It also affects heart's health and above all disturbs your partner too.

PRECAUTIONS -

LOOSE WEIGHT, IF YOU ARE OVERWEIGHT

• Don't drink alcohol or take sedatives before bed.
• Sleep on your side, instead of your back.
• Try an over-the-counter decongestant for a day or two if nasal congestion is an issue.
• Try over-the-counter, drug-free nasal strips that help widen the nostrils.
• Loose weight if you are overweight.
• Raise the head of your bed or use pillow.
• If your doctor has given you a breathing device, use it on a regular basis.

THERAPIES THAT HELP SNORING -

Therapies that might help ease your snoring include: 

Didgeridoo - Research has shown that those who played the instrument for about 25 minutes a day most days of the week experienced less daytime sleepiness — a complication of sleep apnea and snoring. 

Singing - singing exercises for 20 minutes a day for three months may help improve muscle control of the soft palate and upper throat may help to give some relief from snoring.



TREATMENT OPTION -

Treatment options include:

• Dental appliances to prevent your tongue from falling back
• Weight loss
• If you have sleep apnea, use of a CPAP mask (a device you wear on the nose while sleeping to decrease snoring and sleep apnea)
• Surgical procedures on your palate
• Surgery to correct a deviated septum or remove tonsils (tonsillectomy)
• Other types of surgery involving the airway

So friends, don't ignore any abnormalities in the behavior of the body.  One abnormality lead to many other symptoms and deteriorate your health in other ways.

 

 

AWARENESS IS THE KEY TO PREVENTION

References
mayoclinic -snoring
American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery - Treatment Options for Adults with Snoring
http://www.nlm.nih.gov - Snoring adults