Snoring
SNORING very common ailment wherein a person snores during night time to sound like traveling on a rumbling shuddering freight train at least for others in the same room.
Snoring is noisy breathing through the mouth or nose during sleep. Everyone snores once in a while. People snore when they are congested. Even the baby or a beloved pet may snore. Mild snoring is the kind that is remedied by waking your partner and asking them to turn on their side to stop the snoring. Severe snoring is when your partner snores in any position and keeps you awake for some of the night.
Marriages are known to have broken up all because of a snoring partner.
Snoring is noisy breathing through the mouth and nose during sleep. It can occur when you are breathing in or out. Snoring affects 45 per cent of the population from time to time and an estimated 25 per cent of people are habitual snorers. There are a number of reasons why you may snore.
- Age can be a factor. The older you get, the weaker your throat muscles become. Weak throat muscles cause the surrounding tissues to sag and vibrate.
- If you are overweight, your throat tissues are less firm and more inclined to vibrate when you breathe.
- A low-set, thick soft palate, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids (the spongy tissue between the back of the nose and throat) can narrow your airway.
- A longer-than-normal uvula (the triangular piece of skin that hangs from your soft palate) can limit airflow and increase vibrations as you breathe.
- Nasal blockages caused by allergies or a deviated septum (when the partition between your nose is crooked) can limit airflow through your nose. This forces you to breathe through your mouth where more flabby tissue is located.
- Alcohol and certain drugs (such as tranquillisers) affect your central nervous system, causing extreme relaxation of your muscles, including those in your throat.
- When you sleep on your back, your tongue falls backwards into your throat which can narrow your airway and partly block airflow.
Severe snoring causes sleep deprivation for both the snorer and the sleeping partner. The effects of sleep deprivation are:
- Daytime sleepiness
- A compromised immune system and slower healing
- Poor mental and emotional health
- Lack of smooth functioning of the body
- Decreased productivity
- A negative mood
- Low energy
- Unclear thinking
- Slower reaction time
In addition, snoring, because of reduced oxygen going to the brain, can lead to
- Premature death
- Type II Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Hypertension
- Stroke
- Heart disease
Causes of Snoring
1. Obesity.
2. Structural defects of the nostrils and throat. There is a partial obstruction to air flow.
3. Chronic inflammations of the nostrils as a result of infections or allergies.
Clinical Features of Snoring
1. Loud disturbing sounds emanating from the nostrils or mouth.
2. Difficulty in breathing.
3. Disturbed sleep.
4. Day time drowsiness.
Management of Snoring
People usually find out they snore from the people who live with them. Kids may find out they snore from a brother or sister or from a friend who sleeps over. Snoring keeps other people awake and probably doesn't let the snoring person get top quality rest, either.
1. A chronic snorer should be made to sleep on one side and never flat on the back.
2. Take stock of smoking and drinking.
3. Reduce weight.
4. Start exercising.
5. Avoid late nights.
6. Consult a doctor.
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