Snoring

This is a common health condition that negatively affects your sleep called snoring. Commonly, it occurs when the air cannot flow easily through your mouth or nose. In most cases, mild or rare snoring does not provoke any concerns. However, if you experience severe snoring, you may be at higher risk of developing other diseases including heart attack, stroke, and others.

What is Snoring?

When an obstruction in your airway occurs, snoring appears and it usually refers to a snorting, grumbling, or rattling sound during sleep. However, snoring is normal for many people and roughly everyone snores at some point even babies and children.

Jarring or loud snoring may be a symptom of sleep apnea (pause breathing during sleep). You should ask for medical help immediately if snoring occurs with apneic episodes, fatigue, and irritability.

Symptoms

Check below for some examples of snoring sounds:

• Rumbling
• Snorting
• Grumbling
• Whistling
• Quiet vibrations

However, symptoms usually are different among people depending on the severity of the condition. For example:

• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Dry or sore throat
• Irritation
• Trouble focusing
• Toss and turn during sleep

Causes

Commonly, a blockage in the airways (nose, mouth, or throat) can provoke snoring. As a result, some tissues start vibrating against each other. For example:

• Adenoids
• Tongue
• Tonsils
• Soft palate

Additionally, check below other factors that also can provoke snoring:

• Weight – Those who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience sleeping problems and snoring.
• Overall Health – An individual may experience nasal congestion usually due to a common cold or allergies. Certain hormonal changes in pregnant women may also provoke snoring.
• Family History – Snores may also appear in case you have a biological parent who sores.
• Sex Assigned at Birth – Males and people assigned to male at birth (AMAB) are more likely to snore than females or people assigned to female at birth (AFAB).
• Anatomy – A deviated septum, enlarged adenoids, big tonsils, or a large tongue can also block the airways, which usually leads to snoring.
• Alcohol and Sedatives – Medicines used to relax the muscles and alcoholic drinks also contribute to snoring.
• Age – Muscle tone decreases as we age. Therefore, older people are more likely to snore because airways tend to shrink.

In case you do not snore loudly and it does not interrupt your sleep cycle, it is not necessary to consult a doctor. However, if you face any problems caused by snoring, it is recommended to see a healthcare professional.

Diagnosis

First, physicians will perform a physical examination of the throat, nose, and mouth. Thereafter, they will ask some questions such as:

• Do you feel rested during the day?
• How frequently do you snore?
• What does your snoring sound like?

Furthermore, if you are diagnosed with a sleep disorder (such as sleep apnea), your physician may order you to do a sleep study (polysomnography). This study verifies:

• Breathing patterns
• Oxygen levels
• Heart rate
• Movements during sleep
• Snoring
• Brain wave activity and others.

Treatment

Different treatment options are used in the snoring treatment. However, the treatment usually depends on the severity of snoring, other health conditions, and personal preferences.

Nonsurgical Snoring Treatments

• Oral Appliances – A mouth device, mouth guard also called an oral appliance is used to keep your jaw in a correct position, which helps air flow.
• Nasal Strips – Some flexible bands are used outside your nose to keep nasal passages open.
• Medicines – Medications are usually used if you have some health conditions that provoke snoring. For example nasal congestion.
• Lifestyle Changes – Avoid alcohol and smoking, and maintain a healthy weight for you. These lifestyle changes can lessen snoring and improve your overall health. In some cases, changing the sleeping position also may help (for example avoid sleeping on your back).

Surgical Snoring Treatments

In some severe cases, doctors may use surgery to get rid of snoring. Commonly, this procedure is used to remove additional tissues or correct a deviated septum. Check below some examples:

• Tonsillectomy or Adenoidectomy – This procedure is done by a surgeon to remove excess tissues from the throat or nose.
• Septoplasty – This surgery is used to correct a deviated septum, which helps to improve airflow.
• Ablation Therapy – It is a radiofrequency therapy that helps to shrink tissues in your tongue and soft palate.
• Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)

Prevention

The following tips may lessen snoring and improve your overall health. Examples include:

• Try to avoid sleeping on your back.
• You can also buy a snore-reducing pillow.
• You can improve airflow while sleeping by raising your head.
• Try to lose weight if you are overweight and maintain a healthy weight for you.
• Regular exercise
• Manage nasal congestion
• Limit or avoid alcohol and sedatives (such as Clonazepam, Eszopiclone, Zolpidem, and others), especially before sleeping.

Furthermore, you can talk with your healthcare provider for more tips on how you can stop snoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What complications may appear due to snoring?

While snoring is commonly harmless, severe snoring may provoke some unwanted complications. For example:

• Fatigue
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Type 2 diabetes
• Trouble focusing or concentrating
• Reduced blood oxygen levels (Hypoxia)

If you suspect you have any of the complications listed above, you should see a doctor.

Does snoring mean sleep apnea?

Not every time snoring means sleep apnea. Mostly, the most common sleep apnea symptom is snoring, it may occur due to other factors. Discuss with your doctor if you have any questions.

Is it possible to stop snoring naturally?

Try the following tips:

• If you have nasal congestion or obstruction, you should treat these snoring-causing conditions.
• Quit smoking
• Have enough sleep
• Limit or avoid sedatives and alcohol
• Elevate the head of your bed
• It is advised to lose weight if you are overweight or obese

Consult with your doctor if you have tried these tips and you do not notice any improvements.