Snoring is not as funny as all the jokes about it. It may be an indication of a serious problem called sleep apnea. Snoring is a sound that is made when a person's tongue and the soft tissues of the throat cause partial obstruction of the airways during sleep. Breathing becomes difficult through the narrowed airways and causes the loud vibrations of snoring.
While it is disturbing to the family, it may be more troublesome to the person himself. It is usually men who are affected. It may be keeping him from getting the proper amounts of the deeper stages of sleep. He will wake up tired and feel fatigued during the day, perhaps even fall asleep at work or while driving.
The obstruction also causes the person to have pauses in breathing of 10 seconds or longer which recur dozens to hundreds of times each night, resulting in a poor night’s sleep and daytime fatigue. It also results in lower oxygen levels and puts a strain on the heart and lungs which may develop changes over the years.
Many "cures" for snoring have been tried and most have failed, but a few basic principles may be helpful. Sleeping on the side rather than the back is helpful. A person should avoid becoming overly sleepy from alcohol, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers, which will further relax the tissues of the throat and cause greater obstruction.
Your doctor may be able to treat other causes which add to the obstruction, such as allergies or sinus infections, or even do surgery to reconstruct the soft palate or remove enlarged tonsils. Also, using a c-pap machine during sleep can help keep the airways open.
The Sleep Center at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center provides sleep studies that can help diagnose sleep disorders and create plans for treatment.
This health article was provided by Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center. Call (843) 339-4563 for more information. Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center …quality healthcare, close to home.
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