What causes snoring?
The noises of snoring are generated within the breathing passages. The sounds are caused
by the vibration or flapping of the tissues lining the air passages. Noises can result
from a narrowing of the nasal passage which generates a whistling noise. The
vibration of the soft palate (or roof of the mouth) causes the fluttering vibration
sounds. This may, in turn, have been caused by narrowness of the nasal passage causing
turbulent or irregular air flow which contributes to the fluttering of the soft palate.
The tongue may fall back into the airway narrowing the airway and at times causing
blockage. This may also contribute to the snoring noise.
It is most important to stress that snoring, in most patients, is due to multiple
factors, each playing some part in the snoring process. Factors which are important
in this regard include narrowing or blockage of the upper airway passages through
anatomical or injury reasons as well as factors contributing to congestion of the
soft tissues of the airways, e.g. smoking, alcohol, acid reflux from the stomach
affecting the throat tissues, obesity, ageing and hormonal factors. |
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Is snoring dangerous?
Snoring can contribute to fatigue and morning tiredness. This can add risks to driving and
any occupation where workplace tiredness can lead to a lowering of safety. There appears
to be an increased risk of high blood pressure and stroke in snoring patients.
Where snoring is accompanied by significant sleep apnoea, additional health risks may
occur. |
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10 Ways to Stop Snoring:
Noisy breathing robs both the culprit and others of appropriate rest by disrupting
sleeping patterns,
rendering them groggy victims in the morning.
About 40 million Americans snore, according to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders.
To silence this nighttime rumble, the American Academy of
Otolaryngology offers the following suggestions: |
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| 1.Adopt a healthy lifestyle - Those with good muscle
tone are less likely to snore. Shaping up your lifestyle can assure that the tongue and
throat muscles are in shape as well. |
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| 2.Lose weight - Overweight people often have bulky neck
tissue, which can narrow air passageways, causing vibrations when the tongue and upper
throat meet the soft palate and the uvula on the roof of the mouth. |
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| 3.Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antihistamines before
bedtime - Being heavily sedated relaxes the muscles too much, causing collapsible
airways to narrow. |
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| 4.Avoid alcohol for at least four hours before going to sleep -
Alcohol can also oversedate someone if consumed too close to bedtime. |
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| 5.Avoid snacks for three hours before retiring - Food
can trigger saliva and mucus production, which can interfere with breathing. |
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| 6.Establish regular sleeping patterns - Disturbed sleep
and sleep deprivation can cause snoring. Establishing regular sleeping patterns can assure
that you are not overly exhausted and thus keep you from snoring. |
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| 7.Sleep on your side rather than your back - When you
sleep on your back, the lower jaw tends to drop open and snoring is more likely. You can
sew a sock to the back of your pajamas and put a tennis ball into the sock to keep from
rolling over or ask someone you sleep with or a roommate to roll you back onto your side
if you should end up on your back. |
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| 8.Tilt the head of your bed up four inches - You can do
this by stacking pillows underneath you. This allows easier free-flow of the air through
the throat and nasal passages. |
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| 9.Add some humidity to your bedroom - A dry throat tends
to vibrate more than one that is moist. A humidifier could help keep your mouth and throat
from drying out. |
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| 10.If snoring continues, contact your doctor - Snoring
means obstructed breathing and that can be serious. Your doctor can determine whether your
snoring stems from sleep apnea, a condition in which loud snoring is interrupted by
frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing. These obstructions cause a snorer to
stop breathing for seconds or even minutes. Ask your doctor about surgical and nonsurgical
treatments for these more serious conditions. |
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Change your lifestyle:
Get moving! In an age where we're always looking for various supplements and potions to
make us beautiful, healthy and forever young, we too often overlook the solution that's as
simple as a walk in the park (literally). Exercise can: slow and reverse some of the signs
of aging, prevent and treat disease, give you more energy, improve your sex life, boost
your mood, and literally, save your life. Wow! If only someone could bottle that...So what
are you waiting for? A little bit
every day goes a long way - and so could you. |
| Courtesy: www.drkoop.com Health
News |
