SNORING

Snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound that occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe. Nearly everyone snores now and then, but for some people, it can be a chronic problem. In addition, snoring can be a nuisance to your partner.

It is more common in people who are older than 40, have excessive weight, smoking habits, or breathing problems. These factors often lead to enlarged tonsils, enlarged tongue, or excess weight around the neck, thus making their airway too narrow for air to travel in their lungs. This results in throat vibrations, hence the snoring sound.

Snoring is sometimes associated with a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea often is characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing stops or nearly stops. Eventually, this reduction or pause in breathing may signal you to wake up, and you may awaken with a loud snort or gasping sound. You may sleep lightly due to disrupted sleep. This pattern of breathing pauses may be repeated many times during the night. People with obstructive sleep apnea usually experience periods when breathing slows or stops at least five times during every hour of sleep.

The following lifestyle changes help stop or reduce your snoring:-

Do

• try to lose weight if you are overweight
• sleep on your side – try taping a tennis ball to the back of your sleepwear, or buy a special pillow or bed wedge to help keep you on your side
• consider asking your partner to use earplugs if your snoring affects his/her sleep

Don't

• do not smoke
• do not drink too much alcohol
• do not take sleeping pills – this can sometimes cause snoring

See your doctor if:-

• lifestyle changes are not helping
• your snoring is having a big impact on your or your partner's life
• you feel sleepy during the day, or make gasping or choking noises while you sleep – you may have sleep apnea, which can be serious if not treated

What happens at your appointment

The doctor will look inside your mouth and nose to check for any problems that might be causing your snoring.

It can help to bring someone with you to your appointment who can describe what your snoring is like, such as your partner.

The doctor may refer you to a specialist for treatment or further tests if they're not sure what the cause is.

Treatment for snoring depends on the cause

Talk to a doctor about the best treatment for you.

Treatment for snoring depends on the cause
Possible cause	Treatments
Tongue partially blocking the back of your throat	a device you wear in your mouth to bring your tongue forward (mandibular advancement device)
Mouth falling open when you're asleep	a chin strap to hold your mouth closed, or a device you wear in your mouth to make you breathe through your nose while you sleep (vestibular shield)
Blocked or narrow airways in your nose	special devices (nasal dilators) or strips that hold your nose open while you sleep, or sprays to reduce swelling inside your nose

Surgery for snoring

Surgery is sometimes used to treat snoring if other treatments do not help. But surgery does not always work and snoring can back afterward.

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