Symptoms, causes and treatments of snoring
Snoring is a very common experience and many of us will either snore ourselves or share a room or a home with someone else who does. In fact, more than half of adults today snore and a quarter are habitual snorers. Straightforward snoring doesn’t usually indicate that there are any deeper health issues to worry about but it can be disruptive to your own sleep and to anyone else you share a space with. Occasionally, it may also be an indication that there might be something more serious you need to deal with.
Who is affected by snoring and what causes it?
Snoring happens when air flows past relaxed tissues in the throat and makes them vibrate - this can create the harsh noise that we recognise as snoring. It can affect anyone but men usually snore more than women. There are also some common factors that can make snoring worse, including being overweight and older - snoring is a condition that tends to get more pronounced with age. Anything, from the anatomy of the mouth to lifestyle factors, such as smoking or drinking alcohol, can have an impact on whether or not you snore.
Symptoms and treatments of snoring
The most obvious sign of snoring is the noise. However, if you’re also experiencing other symptoms such as feeling tired during the day, often having a short fuse, problems concentrating and higher blood pressure then you may be snoring and not realising it. There are lots of different ways to treat a problem with snoring and many of them involve lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or ensuring you don’t drink alcohol close to going to sleep. Oral appliances can also be useful, as can changing sleeping positions so you’re not on your back and treating nasal congestion as soon as it arises.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Sometimes snoring is not simple - if you suffer from OSA then you may need to take further steps to treat your sleep issues. OSA is defined by multiple breathing pauses that can be longer than 10 seconds each - this happens because the upper airway is narrowing or collapsing. The major issue with this is that it lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood and puts a lot more pressure on the heart, which can minimise sleep quality and make you feel awful. Waking up choking or with a dry mouth and throat, pauses in breathing when you’re asleep, experiencing a morning headache and feeling tired all day can all be signs of OSA. Left untreated it can cause problems with your blood pressure and heart. Diagnosing and getting treatment for OSA is simple - your ENT doctor will examine your nose, mouth, neck, palette and throat and do a sleep study to see whether OSA is causing your snoring. In most cases OSA can be treated with a small device that applies enough pressure to keep your airways open.
Snoring can affect anyone and may be disruptive for you and those you share your home with. If you are a regular snorer it’s essential to make sure you’re not suffering from OSA as this can have more serious consequences. Get in contact with us at Harley Street ENT to resolve any snoring problems you may have.
