Snoring a serious sleep disorder called as sleep apnea

Snoring is the hoarse sound that occurs when your breathing is partially obstructed in some way while you're sleeping. Sometimes it may indicate a serious health condition. In addition, it can also be a nuisance to your partner. It occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat. This causes the tissues to vibrate as you breathe, and this then creates those irritating sounds. Lifestyle changes, such as sleeping on your side, losing weight, or avoiding alcohol close to bedtime can help stop it. In addition, surgery and medical devices are available that may reduce disruptive snoring. However, these aren't necessary or suitable for everyone who snores.

Symptoms

Your symptoms may differ depending on it:

• Noise during sleep

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Sore throat

• Restless sleep

• Gasping or choking at night

• High blood pressure

• Chest pain at night

See your doctor when:

• Your snoring is so loud and it's disrupting your partner's sleep

• You wake up gasping or choking

• These may indicate that it is caused by obstructive sleep apnea.

Causes

Many factors, such as alcohol consumption, the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, your weight, allergies, and a cold, can lead to it. When you doze off and progress from a light sleep to a deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), throat and tongue relax. The tissues in your throat can relax enough that they partially block your airway and vibrate. The airflow becomes more forceful because the airway becomes narrower. The vibration of the tissue increases, which causes it to grow louder.

The conditions that affect the airway and cause it are:

• Your mouth anatomy

• Alcohol consumption

• Nasal problems

• Sleep apnea

Risk factors:

• Being a man. Men are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea than are women.

• Being overweight. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to snore or have obstructive sleep apnea.

• Having a narrow airway. Some people may have large tonsils, adenoids, or a soft long palate, which narrows the airway and causes it.

• Drinking alcohol. Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles, & hence increases the risk of it.

• Having nasal problems. If your nose is chronically congested, or you have a deviated septum your risk of snoring is greater.

• Having a family history of it or obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatments and drugs

• Oral appliances.

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

• Palatal implants

• Traditional surgery

• Laser surgery

• Radiofrequency tissue ablatio

Prevention:

• If you're overweight, lose weight

• Sleep on your side

• Raise the head of your bed

• Nasal strips

• Treat obstruction or nasal congestion

• Limit or avoid alcohol and sedatives