Sleep apnea and snoring are sleep disorders. Both affect millions of people in developed and developing nations. Let’s take a look at some of the crucial aspects of both the conditions.
What triggers snoring?
Snoring indicates the person’s inability to breathe properly while asleep. The movement of air is partially obstructed, causing vibrations in the throat, resulting in weird sounds. People sleeping nearby such patients are exposed to loud, harsh noise coming from the patient’s mouth.
Snoring can result in reduced quality of sleep, irritability, daytime fatigue, and other health issues. If ignored, this medical condition can further cause obstructive sleep apnea and chronic sleep deprivation, drowsiness, lack of focus, fatigue. It also increases the chances of facing heart diseases. Most importantly, it can create problems in married life as well.
Occasional snoring is not a serious concern, but individuals who snore daily need treatment and attention. Oral health experts suggest that in most cases, the excess nasal or throat tissue interrupts smooth breathing.
People indulged in habitual snoring also gasp, choke during sleep. They fall asleep during inappropriate times. Patients who snore heavily while sleeping experience sleepiness during the day, along with extreme fatigue. It is advisable to immediately contact a physician in case of such symptoms as these are the signs for sleep apnea. Proper diagnosis is essential to zero-in on the exact trigger factor and to rule out serious problems like sleep apnea.
What is sleep apnea?
An individual suffering from sleep apnea stops and starts breathing while asleep. The person wakes up in the middle of the night due to the interruption in breathing. It can happen on multiple occasions throughout the night.
There are two types of this disorder. The obstruction in breathing caused due to issues in the throat’s soft tissue is referred to as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The second type of condition is Central Sleep Apnea. In CSA, the patient’s brain does not send the right breathing signals to the muscles involved in breathing.
Such patients are indulged in loud snoring during the night, and experience restlessness, sleepiness during the day time.
Besides tiredness, the disorder can also cause memory loss, trigger mental illness, increase the risk of heart attack, and negatively impact the immune system.
Studies suggest that out of 18 million probable sleep apnea patients in the United States, only 20 percent opt for treatment.
Home remedies for snoring and sleep apnea
Remedies for sleep apnea
Depending on the severity and symptoms of sleep apnea, the physician can recommend CPAP based treatment, medication, surgery, or lifestyle remedies to treat the disorder.
Obese individuals are prone to sleep apnea; thus, doctors recommend such patients to lose weight for treating the disorder.
Studies have pointed out the link between sleep apnea and the patient’s sleeping position. Sleeping on the right side can help in controlling snoring and promotes air, blood flow throughout the body.
Humidifiers help in reducing mouth dryness and nasal congestion in patients suffering from sleep disorders. They can also help in getting better results from CPAP treatment. Thus, doctors recommend patients to use the same for ensuring cleaner breathing.
Alcohol can play a role in blocking airflow by relaxing throat muscles. It can also result in irregular sleep cycles and snoring. Similarly, even the consumption of tobacco can lead to swelling and inflammation in airways. Thus, doctors suggest patients control smoking and drinking habits for ensuring that sleep apnea and snoring does not worsen.
Simple remedies for snoring
Some of the main factors that trigger snoring are alcohol consumption, smoking, sleep posture, nasal or sinus problems, obesity, and the age factor. Using nasal strips, changing bed sheets regularly, using peppermint mouthwash, keeping head in an elevated position while sleeping, and opting for anti-snoring appliances are some of the simple remedies for treating snoring.
Quitting smoking, losing weight, adding exercises in daily routine, avoiding sleeping pills as well as alcohol, can prove helpful.
Cpap for snoring
There are several oral appliances, including tongue stabilizing and mandibular advancement devices, which can keep the tongue or jaw in the right position for ensuring the airway remains open while sleeping. Dentists or physicians can help in choosing the right oral devices on a case to case basis.
CPAP-Continuous Positive Airwave Pressure treatment is another therapy option for snoring and sleep apnea. Patients need to wear nasal or face mask while sleeping so that positive airflow can be delivered in the nasal passages. A tube delivers the air from a small pump to the mask for ensuring the airway remains open while the patient is asleep.
In severe cases, the physician may recommend the use of an upper airway stimulator. The device keeps the airway muscles open by providing a mild simulation to their nerves. The device is connected to the skin near the patient’s upper chest. There is no need to worry, as physicians and dentists provide basic training for using the gadget.
Surgery for snoring and sleep apnea
Lifestyle changes do help in controlling symptoms. However, surgery and prescription medication can be the best options for some patients with severe sleep apnea.
Patients who cannot tolerate CPAP masks can opt for a suitable surgery to take care of snoring once and for all. Depending on the causes that trigger snoring, experts recommend the appropriate surgical procedures.
Experts can recommend nasal surgery, UPPP, soft plate implants, tongue base reduction, tracheostomy, or other surgical options.
The minimally invasive surgical procedure for trimming soft tissue present on the back of the throat or upper airwave is Somnoplasty.
Tonsillectomy can be an ideal procedure for removing the tonsils, while Palate surgery is the most recommended option for removing soft palate tissues.
Suchita Panchal is a content writer who has worked out with several health blogs and is a fitness geek herself.