Sleep apnea and snoring
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
What is snoring?
When you are asleep, the muscles in the throat may become very relaxed. Snoring is the sound made when air vibrates the relaxed soft tissue in the throat when the air moves in and out of the nose and/or mouth.
Is snoring a common problem?
Yes, nearly everyone snores occasionally. In India, almost 1/3rd of the population above 35 years snores and sometimes loud enough to disturb those around them.
Why do some people snore, and others do not?
- Overweight: People who are overweight are more likely to snore. Weight gain makes snoring worse, and losing weight makes snoring better.
- Age: Snoring gets worse with age due to increased laxity of muscles and tissues.
- Gender: Men are 3 times more likely to snore than women. Women snore as well, and after menopause, women tend to snore worse.
- Alcohol: Alcohol relaxes the muscles of the throat and worsens snoring.
- Sedatives: Such as sleeping tablets, can contribute to snoring.
- Smoking: Smoking makes snoring worse.
- Genetics: Snoring may run in families. It is related to the shape of your throat, and in the same way that families look alike, they may snore alike!
- Nose block: A blocked nose at night may cause snoring. Correcting certain nasal abnormalities may reduce snoring.
- Sleeping position: Lying on your side reduces snoring because lying on your back causes your tongue to fall backward and partly block the airway.
- Children: Large tonsils and adenoids can cause severe snoring and sleep apnea in children, sometimes requiring urgent treatment.
What is sleep apnea, and is it related to snoring?
Snoring may be associated with a sleep disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Not all snorers have this condition. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is a condition where the upper airway blocks or partially blocks whilst you are sleeping which is usually witnessed by the partner. There may be by periods of silence when their breathing stops or nearly stops If this is happening regularly and causing sleep disturbance and tiredness, it may well be significant. Adults with OSA have excessive daytime sleepiness and are at risk of having high blood pressure, heart problems and strokes. Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea may have poor attention span at school, poor school performance or behavioural issues and sometimes wet the bed.
Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea
- History as witnessed by the partner/parent
- Clinical examination of the oral cavity, nose, and throat to look for obvious obstruction
- Nasopharyngolaryngoscopy - For dynamic visualization of obstruction
- Sleep study - Gold standard for diagnosis of sleep apnea
So in case you feel you are experiencing these symtoms or witnessing them in your loved ones you should take the help of an ENT surgeon , who can recommend individual based therapy including lifestyle modifications with weight reduction , surgery or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment.
