Snoring Health Article

Definition

Snoring is a loud, hoarse, or harsh breathing sound that occurs during sleep.

Considerations

Snoring is common in adults and usually is not a sign of an underlying disorder.

Sometimes, however, snoring can be a sign of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea. This means you have periods when you are not breathing for more than 10 seconds while you sleep. During an apnea episode, there is a long period of silence just after snoring. The episode is followed by a sudden snort or gasp when breathing resumes. Then, snoring starts all over again. If you have sleep apnea, this cycle generally happens several times a night.

Risks associated with sleep apnea include stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart attack due to lack of oxygen. A doctor (or a sleep specialist) can tell if you have sleep apnea by doing a sleep study either at home or in a hospital setting.

Common Causes

In most people, the reason for snoring is not known. Some potential causes (other than sleep apnea) include:

• Being overweight, which leads to excessive neck tissue that puts pressure on the airways
• Last month of pregnancy
• Nasal congestion from colds or allergies, especially if it lasts a long time
• Swelling of the muscular part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate) or uvula, the piece of tissue that hangs down in the back of the mouth
• Swollen adenoids and tonsils that block the airways
• Using sleeping pills, antihistamines, or alcohol at bedtime

Home Care

The following can help reduce snoring:

• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Avoid alcohol and other sedatives at bedtime.
• Try over-the-counter, drug-free nasal strips that help widen the nostrils.
• Avoid sleeping flat on your back. Sleep on your side if possible. Some doctors even suggest sewing a golf or tennis ball into the back of your night clothes. Then, if you roll over onto your back, you are reminded to stay on your side because of the discomfort. Eventually, sleeping on your side is a habit and you don't need to be reminded.