Results when the flow of air through the nose or mouth is blocked.
Sound caused by fluttering or vibration of the tissues of the throat as one breathes.
When the nose is blocked a switch to mouth breathing occurs.
About 45% of adults snore occasionally.
Linked to adverse health outcomes, including hypertension, ischemic heart disease, daytime sleepiness and accidents.
Roughly 40% of middle aged men and 20% of middle aged women have habitual snoring.
Correlated with obesity, middle age, male sex and smoking.
Two main types-secondary to blocked or stuffed nose and secondary to throat vibration.
Throat snoring may be related to sleep apnea.
Refers to the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping.
In may be soft, but in most cases, is loud and unpleasant.
Snoring during sleep may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
One of the factors of sleep deprivation to snorers and those around them
May cause daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of focus and decreased libido.
Can cause significant psychological and social damage to sufferers.
There is a positive correlation between loud snoring and risk of heart attack and stroke.
Snorers can sometimes suffer severe impairment of lifestyle.
Significant improvement in marital relations after snoring is surgically corrected has been reported.
Loud snoring is associated with vibrations that are transmitted to the carotid artery, identifying a possible mechanism for snoring-associated carotid artery damage and atherosclerotic plaque development.
It is estimated that roughly one in every 15 Americans is affected by at least a moderate degree of sleep apnea.
Snoring is the result of the relaxation of the uvula and soft palate, enough to partially block the airway, resulting in irregular airflow and vibrations.
Snoring can be attributed to:
Throat weakness.
Mispositioned jaw, often caused by tension in the muscles.
Obesity.
Obstruction in the nasal passageway.
Obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep deprivation.
Relaxants such as alcohol or other drugs relaxing throat muscles.
Sleeping on one’s back, which may result in the tongue dropping to the back of the mouth.
No treatment presently can completely stop snoring.
Almost all treatments involve lessening the breathing discomfort by clearing the blockage in the air passages.
Medications are usually not helpful in treating snoring symptoms.
Medications can, however, help control some of the underlying causes such as nasal congestion and allergic reactions.
Doctors, therefore, often recommend:
Lifestyle changes as first line treatment to stop snoring.
Snorers are advised to lose weight, to stop smoking, avoiding alcohol and sedative medications before bedtime as they relax the throat and tongue muscles, which in turn narrow the airways, promote sleeping on their side to prevent the tongue from blocking the throat
Orthopedic pillows are designed to support the head and neck to ensure the jaw stays open and slightly forward.
Mandibular advancement splints are specially made dental appliances which advance the lower jaw slightly and thereby pull the tongue forward, are a common treatment.
Such appliances are often tolerated much better than CPAP machines.
A continuous positive airway pressure apparatus is often used to control sleep apnea and the snoring associated with it.
A continuous positive airway pressure apparatus pumps a controlled stream of air through a flexible hose to a mask worn over the nose, mouth, or both.
A continuous positive airway pressure is usually applied through a CPAP mask which is placed over the nose and/or mouth.
The air pressure to keep the airway open is delivered through a CPAP machine which is like an air compressor.
CPAP delivers is normal air, not concentrated oxygen and utilizes the air pressure as to keep the airway open.
In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway at the rear of the throat is prone to closure.
Some surgical procedures, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, attempt to widen the airway by removing tissues in the back of the throat, including the uvula and pharynx.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) applies radiofrequency energy and heat (between 77 °C and 85 °C) to the soft tissue at the back of the throat, such as the soft palate and uvula, causing scarring of the tissue beneath the skin, resulting in stiffening of the treated area.
Radiofrequency ablation is frequently effective in reducing the severity of snoring, but often does not completely eliminate it.
The Pillar Procedure is a minimally invasive treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
During this procedure, three to six+ dacron strips are inserted into the soft palate, using a modified syringe and local anesthetic.
The above procedure results in the soft palate being more rigid, possibly reducing instances of sleep apnea and snoring.
This procedure addresses the vibration or collapse of the soft palate.
In an open label non-randomized study in 30 patients found benefit from pseudoephedrine, domperidone, and the combination in the treatment of severe snoring.
At least 30% of adults and perhaps as many as 50% of people in some populations snore.
In a survey habitual snoring in 24% of men and about 14% of women, rising to 60% of men and 40% of women aged 60 to 65 years;
The above suggests an increased susceptibility to snoring as age increases.