Why do people snore ?
And how do you manage it ?
Snoring can be quite disruptive and there are several causes that might be treatable . Any person who snores and seems to stop breathing during their sleep should be very carefully assessed because sleep apnoea is an important , yet treatable , medical condition .
Loud snoring is something we have all joked about at some stage and it is notorious for keeping spouses awake at night . But it can potentially be a serious sign of an underlying medical problem .
Snoring refers to any form of loud breathing during sleep . Common causes include :
Nasal congestion ( occurs with allergies in particular ) Nasal congestion and allergies can make some people ’ s noses stuffy and cause them to snore . This is a common cause of snoring .
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids These can make your airways narrower , causing you to snore and stop breathing for short periods of time while sleeping . If your sleep is affected over the long term , doctors often recommend surgery .
Soft palate abnormalities ( usually tissues that are excessively soft and flexible ) Laxity of the soft palate may cause snoring and modern surgical techniques may be able to correct this .
Alcohol Drinking alcohol relaxes the tongue and throat muscles which can partially block air movement . To satisfy the need for oxygen , the body compensates by inhaling air more forcefully , causing characteristic snoring sounds .
Sedatives and sleeping pills Very much like alcohol , sedatives and sleeping pills relax your throat muscles and can partially block air movement . This can make your snoring worse .
Sleep apnoea ( a dangerous condition where people stop breathing during sleep ) Sleep apnoea is the most important consideration when it comes to snoring because it is linked to complications such as high blood pressure and heart disease . Sometimes , a person ’ s sleeping partner will have noticed episodes where their partner seems to stop breathing , only to restart breathing in a sudden , noisy manner . The only way to confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnoea is to observe someone ’ s sleep behaviour in a sleep lab .
Bonitas Member Magazine Issue 3 | 2021
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