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Snoring is a breathing noise that occurs during sleep.
It is a common problem among all ages and both genders, and it affects approximately 90 million American adults — 37 million on a regular basis.
Persons most at risk are males and those who are overweight, and it usually becomes more serious as people age.
Snoring can cause disruptions to your bed partner's sleep and is also associated with cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, headaches and diabetes.
While breathing in, the air passage between the upper soft palate, or uvula, and the throat or base of the tongue may open and close.
During sleep, the muscles surrounding these structures relax and the air passage may narrow or close — causing a blockage of the airway.
Air cannot flow through easily and may need to be drawn between these structures. The tissues then vibrate — resulting in the familiar sound of snoring.
Snoring represents abnormal breathing during sleep. The loudness and tone of the noise is affected by how much air is going through the passage. The greater the obstruction, the greater is the effort to draw air and the louder the noise.
As it becomes harder to breath and snoring becomes worse, you may actually stop breathing. This is a sign of a serious condition called apnea (meaning "want of breath"), which requires medical attention and may lead to other serious conditions.
The National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) 2002 Sleep in America Poll revealed that 37% of adults report they had snored at least a few nights a week during the previous year. In fact, 27% said that they snore every night or almost every night. Males were more likely than females to report snoring at least a few nights a week (42% vs. 31%).
NSF’s 2003 poll, which focused on older adults between the ages of 55-84, reveals that about one-third of older adults overall (32%) report they had snored at least a few nights a week in the past year, with about four in ten 55-64 year-olds (41%) most likely to have said they snore compared to about one-fourth of 65-74 year-olds (28%) and 75-84 year-olds (22%).
Men were significantly more likely than women to report snoring at least a few nights a week (40% vs. 26%).
Snoring may occur due to any of a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to sleep apnea. Although snoring is often a sign of sleep apnea, most snorers do not, in fact, suffer from sleep apnea.
Obesity and a large neck can contribute to snoring. People who drink alcohol before bedtime may snore more than usual. And snoring is sometimes caused by an illness or a sleep disorder.
Risk factors for snoring include: obesity (overweight), hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), and tobacco use. Some people are born with a small or narrow airway, while others have conditions that interfere with normal breathing (such as nasal polyps or deviated septum).
In either case, snoring is more likely to occur. Snoring also can arise with sleep deprivation, with common colds or allergies, when sleeping on one’s back, or as a result of the use of alcohol or certain sleeping pills
Snoring cures
Most snoring probably is not associated with health concerns, but is a problem that snorers and their loved ones would like resolved.
Simple treatments include weight loss, avoidance of alcohol or sleep aids that relax muscles, treatment of nasal congestion or allergies, or the use of over-the-counter devices such as tape strips that help open your nasal passages.
Every spouse of a snorer can tell you that sleeping on your side also reduces the likelihood of snoring. Some people can sleep on their sides at will; others might want to try using an old tennis ball sewn into the center of the back of a T-shirt, which “reminds” the sleeper to roll over whenever he’s on his back.
Oral appliances, usually fit by a dentist, may be helpful. Finally, a variety of surgical procedures provided by Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists can provide a long-term solution to the problem of snoring.
Snoring actually may be a health concern for some. Medical reports have shown that snoring is associated with high blood pressure and reports of daytime dysfunction. Snoring also may be a “warning sign” of a sleep-related breathing disorder known as “sleep apnea.”
Approximately five out of every 100 snorers has sleep apnea, a very serious medical condition that is associated with breathing pauses during sleep (see Sleep Apnea).
People with sleep apnea often suffer from debilitating daytime fatigue and sleepiness, and they are at significantly greater risk than others for stroke, irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, and death.
The treatment plan for a person with sleep apnea is quite different from one for an individual with simple snoring, so medical evaluation and follow-up care is essential.
There are many different ways to reduce snoring:
• One of the most effective is through weight loss. Reducing your weight will reduce fat deposits in the throat, providing a more spacious airway and usually less snoring.
• Another way to reduce snoring is to improve nasal breathing by using a nasal strip that gently opens your nostrils during sleep. Dental appliances that are also available can be prescribed by your dentist or orthodontist.
• Sleeping on your side with a pillow is the preferable position to help alleviate snoring.
• Two lifestyle changes to consider are avoiding alcohol and cigarettes. Abstaining from alcohol, which relaxes muscles in the airway, at least four hours before bedtime; and abstaining completely from smoking, which is associated with nasal congestion, can help alleviate snoring.
• Finally, ask your doctor for recommendations, so he or she can address your specific snoring situation.
Snoring represents abnormal breathing during sleep. The loudness and tone of the noise is affected by how much air is going through the passage. The greater the obstruction, the greater is the effort to draw air and the louder the noise.
As it becomes harder to breath and snoring becomes worse, you may actually stop breathing. This is a sign of a serious condition called apnea (meaning "want of breath"), which requires medical attention and may lead to other serious conditions.
When your partner snores…..
Nothing is quite as frustrating as trying to sleep and hearing the guttural sounds of your loved one next to you snoring.
It was supposed to be for better or for worse, but no one told you anything about endless nights of being woken up by the frustrating sounds, the bags under your eyes that would follow, and the necessity for you to consume five cups of coffee a day just to stay awake.
So is there a way to get your partner to stop snoring, or will you have to resort to separate bedrooms in order to get the much-needed sleep that you have been deprived of? Don’t give up hope just yet.
Allergies, colds, and blocked airways are common causes of the condition. Sometimes snoring can be caused by a serious condition, but usually snoring can be treated with simple preventative measures.
Since snoring is most common when lying on the back, sometimes getting your partner to stop snoring is as easy as asking them to roll over and sleep on their side. At other times, the remedy may be much more elusive. Sometimes adding a humidifier to the room will aid in moisturizing the airways and will help reduce snoring symptoms since a dry throat can contribute to soft palate vibrations.
There are also sprays and nose strips that one can use to prevent snoring, though these methods are not as effective as some other widely-available methods have proven to be.
One popular remedy for persistent snoring is the use of a “memory foam” pillow that will properly support the shoulder, neck and head areas. Since improper support of these areas can restrict airflow, a quality pillow can work wonders literally overnight.
If the above remedies don’t eliminate the snoring problem, there could potentially be a more serious condition causing your partner to snore and an appointment with a physician should be made to determine the underlying cause of the condition
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