What Causes Snoring?

Snoring can cause those that snore to not have a restful nights sleep. Snoring can also affect others in the snorer's household. It is quite hard (at times impossible) to get to sleep when someone is snoring. The result is being tired, exhausted, or falling asleep during the day.

This topic deals with simple snoring...

If you stop breathing, choke, or gasp during sleep, you may have a potentially serious condition called sleep apnea. For more information, see the topic Sleep Apnea.

What is snoring?

Snoring occurs when the flow of air from the mouth or nose to the lungs is disturbed during sleep, usually by a blockage or narrowing in the nose, mouth, or throat (airway). This causes the tissues of the airway to vibrate and knock against the back of the throat, resulting in a noise that can be soft, loud, raspy, harsh, hoarse, or fluttering.

You may not know that you snore. Your bed partner may notice the snoring and that you sleep with your mouth open. If snoring interferes with your or your bed partner's sleep, either or both of you may feel tired during the day.

In the past, snoring was often considered no more than a nuisance that kept a bed partner awake at night. However, snoring may progress to upper respiratory resistance syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which you periodically stop breathing during sleep. Because of this, it is important to see your health professional if you routinely snore.

Snoring is common. About 25% to 50% of men and about 25% to 30% of women snore on a regular basis.

What causes snoring?

You snore when the flow of air from your mouth or nose to your lungs makes the tissues of the airway vibrate. This usually is caused by a blockage (obstruction) or narrowing in the nose, mouth, or throat (airway).

When you inhale during sleep, air enters the mouth or nose and passes through the soft palate (the back of the roof of the mouth) on its way to the lungs. The back of the mouth—where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula—is collapsible. If this area collapses enough, the airway becomes narrow or blocked. The narrowed or blocked passage disturbs the airflow, which causes the soft palate and uvula to vibrate and knock against the back of the throat, causing snoring. The tonsils and adenoids may also vibrate. The narrower the airway is, the more the tissue vibrates, and the louder the snoring.

How is it treated?

You may be able to treat snoring through lifestyle modifications such as losing weight (if necessary), quitting smoking, changing sleep habits (such as sleeping on your side instead of your back), and avoiding the use of alcohol and sedatives before bed. If nasal congestion is disturbing airflow, nasal dilators (such as nasal strips), decongestants, or inhaled corticosteroids may be used. Oral breathing devices, which push the tongue and jaw forward to improve airflow, may also be an option. If these treatments do not work, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or surgery may be tried.

Snoring is not always considered a medical problem, so insurance may not cover treatment.

Original Article: http://www.webmd.com/hw/sleep_disorders/ug2415.asp

Ramifications of Snoring

The social ramifications make snoring a serious problem. Snoring disrupts sound sleep for the snorer, and the sleeping partner. Many sleeping partners of snorers decide to go to sleep in another room. Some couples dealing with the snoring issue have separate rooms. Relationships become strained and the lack of communication results in lack of chatting at bedtime and closeness. Often physical intimacy is lost which can lead to the end of the relationship altogether.

Sleep partners of heavy snorers wake up sometimes more than twenty times each hour. This severely reduces the quantity and quality of restful sleep. Snoring has often resulted in no one that will sleep with the snorer, and the snorer becomes isolated.

There are many health issues snoring can cause. A severe snoring problem ends up resulting in sleep deprivation for both the snorer and the sleeping partner. The effects of sleep deprivation are numerous: Low energy, unclear thinking, slowed reaction time, negative moods, slower healing, lack of normal functioning of the body, compomised immune system and poor emotional and mental health. On the job one can experience decreased productivity.

Credits:

Author: Paul Lehnert
Editor: Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor: Lila Havens
Primary Medical Reviewer: Caroline S. Rhoads, MD
Specialist Medical Reviewer: Jan Ulfberg, MD, PhD

Sleep Disorders Health Center

http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/condition_centers/sleep_disorders/default.htm

Sleep disorders include a range of problems -- from insomnia to narcolepsy -- and affect millions of Americans. Here you'll find in-depth information on sleep disorder treatments, causes, and the diagnosis. Plus, learn how sleep disorders affect your health and work.