Snoring is the noise made by passing through the nose and mouth during sleep. People snore due to a partial obstruction of airflow in the upper part of the tongue and throat. Snoring may occur occasionally, or it may be common, with people snoring every night. It can also range from mild to very high and most commonly affects people who are overweight.
Snoring Causes:
Snoring causes are certain physical characteristics of the mouth, such as bulky tissue in the throat, especially in people who are overweight, or a thick or long soft palate, or an elongated vulva (tissue that hangs on the soft palate) obstructs your airway, as well as a deviated nasal septum; Poor muscle tone in the muscles of the throat and tongue, allowing them to relax relatively easily, can cause them to collapse and fall into the airway. Other Snoring causes include nasal disorders such as sinusitis, nasal polyps or rhinitis, which can obstruct the nose and airways.
Snoring symptoms:
Breathing sounds during sleep, which bother you and your partner, are the most obvious and common Snoring symptoms. However, following snoring symptoms may indicate the presence of sleep apnea and should not be taken lightly:
- Repeated interruption of breathing at night causes awakening.
- Too much fatigue during the day.
- Lack of concentration.
- Sleepy day.
- Chest pain.
- Headache.
- Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)
Proficient machine therapies to treat Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that begins with a pause in your breathing that begins while you sleep. Without treatment, it can cause serious side effects such as high blood pressure, fatigue, heartburn or hypertension.
Types of Sleep Apnea:
Sleep apnea has three main types:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
It is the most common type of sleep apnea that occurs when the throat muscles relax.
- Central Sleep Apnea
It happens when the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
- Complex Sleep Apnea
It is also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea and is caused to someone who is suffering from both Obstructive Sleep Apnea and central Sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms:
Some common Sleep Apnea Symptoms given below:
- Loud Snoring
- Anxiety
- Dry Mouth or throat
- Fatigue
- Daytime Sleepiness
- Restlessness while sleeping
- Forgetfulness
- Irritability
- Trouble and difficulty in concentration
- Hypersomnia
Snoring Diagnosis and Tests:
The doctor will ask you questions and will review your snoring symptoms. A physical examination of the visible parts of the nose and respiratory tract is also used to identify oscilloscopic arrows. During snoring diagnosis the doctor may advise for X-rays or imaging tests, like a CT (Computed Tomography) scan, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), to detect any anatomical issues that need correction. If snoring symptoms are severe, your doctor may order a sleep study to monitor your sleep patterns and physical changes in your body during sleep, such as breathing rate, heart rate, brain waves, blood oxygen levels, and eye movements, stages of sleep. Be sure to discuss the sleep study process in detail with your doctor, including how long it will take, where and how it will be performed, and any concerns or questions you may have related to it.
Snoring Treatment:
Snoring can be treated by some lifestyle modifications. There are many lifestyle changes if you follow them, snoring will be treated without the use of any medication. But if symptoms of Snoring get worse then the patient should take CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)therapy or the last option to treat Snoring is by surgical method.
- Changing sleep position
- Weight loss
- Avoid the use of alcohol
- Avoid smoking
- Drinking a lot of water
- Avoid sleeping pills
- Treat nasal congestion
- By improving sleep habits
- Dusting of ceiling fans to get Rid of different allergens
- Before going to bed take shower to help nasal passages open up
For treatment of serious problems related to Snoring and sleep apnea, a patient should consult his/her doctor so that the doctor advises them to have the best possible treatment. There below given some treatment therapies for treatment of Snoring.
CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Therapy:
CPAP machine therapy comes under the category of most commonly used treatments for Snoring. CPAP machines stop snoring so that your muscles do not collapse and create a constant positive air pressure. This way, the soft tissues of your neck, throat and mouth do not partially block your breathing, creating a “snoring” sound.
Tips for using CPAP:
There are some tips for using CPAP machine, which will be very helpful:
- Be assured that your CPAP mask is well cleaned.
- For a comfortable seal, adjust the headgear straps.
- Your CPAP mask should have snug fit but it should not be tight to cause pain.
- Be assured that there should not be any air gap between your face and CPAP mask.
- If you feel a problem with the size of the mask, select the mask which is appropriate according to your face.
Pros and Cons of CPAP Machine:
CPAP machines constantly supply oxygen to your body while you sleep. In doing so, they help prevent the short pauses in breathing that signal sleep. The benefits of this machine increase with long-term use of CPAP.
Pros:
- It improves the ability to sleep without waking up.
- It also helps to lower blood pressure.
- By this it also lowers the risk of different cardiovascular disorders like Heart attack, Stroke etc.
- It may also lower the level of blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
- It also reduces daytime Sleepiness.
Cons:
While a CPAP machine helps prevent different problems related to sleep, this device also has side effects. Some stop using CPAP machines because of side effects.
- Feeling of restlessness
- Dry mouth
- Nosebleeds
- Difficulty in sleeping, especially in the start of therapy
- Feeling swollen with air
- Feeling claustrophobic or anxious
- Nasal congestion
- Skin irritation
- Pain due to the effect of mask on the face
