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If it were not a serious concern for those that are affected by snoring, it might be amusing to know that almost half of the world's population snores. About 45% of people that snore are occasional snorers and 25% are chronic snorers. Snoring is more than just a nuisance; it can be a sign of health problems. Recent studies have linked snoring with sleep apnea and illnesses like high blood pressure, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, type II diabetes, and premature death.
The snoring sound is produced in the air passages and results from an obstruction of the free flow of air. This obstruction causes the soft tissues to vibrate producing the snore.
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There are many causes of adult snoring: poor muscle tone, excessive bulk of throat tissue, thick soft palate, extraordinarily long uvula, stuffed nasal passages, deviated septum (the cartilage diving the nose), and enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Effects of snoring and OSA (obstructive sleep apnea)
Adult snoring is a symptom of a sleeping disorder called sleep apnea. This condition causes a person to stop breathing for a minimum of 10-30 seconds and will occur several times a night resulting in sleep and oxygen deprivation. Oxygen and sleep deprivation have significant adverse effects on the body. The person suffering from sleep apnea tends to feel tired and fatigued during the day resulting in decreased productivity, irritability, poor mental health, and a vulnerable immune system.
Pregnant women who snore are at risk of retarding their unborn child's growth. Studies have noted that women who snored during the course of their pregnancy gave birth to babies with lower birth weight and low APGAR scores (heart rate, skin tone, reflex, breathing).
Is there help in snoring?
Regular exercise to lose weight and avoiding sedatives and/or antihistamines may relieve mild or occasional cases of snoring. Refraining from going to bed with a full stomach and/or imbibing alcohol shortly before bedtime can also help. These relax the neck muscles resulting in collapsing soft tissues which causes snoring. A snorer may get relief by sleeping on their side or elevating their body, about 4 inches, from the waist up.
Adult suffering from excessive or chronic snoring need to seek medical examination in order to determine the cause of snoring. The range of today's medical treatments for adult snoring (chronic) vary from simple, non-invasive orthodontic appliances to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP, and to more complex Laser-Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP).
CPAP can help adult snoring by blowing continued pressure on a person's air passage to help get rid of obstructions. Many adult snorers are cured using this device although it takes practice to use it and requires the support of loved ones. LAUP is not widely used yet but is considered, by doctors, as an alternative treatment for mild OSA that has not been treated using CPAP.
