Snoring

What Causes Snoring?

The noisy sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. This is the collapsible part of the airway where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula (the fleshy structure that dangles from the roof of the mouth back into the throat). When these structures strike against each other and vibrate during breathing, that is snoring.

Is Snoring Serious?

Socially - yes. It is disruptive to family life. It makes the snorer an object of ridicule and causes other household members sleepless nights and resentment. Snorers become unwelcome roommates on vacations or business trips.
 
And medically - yes. It disturbs the sleeping patterns of the snorer himself, so that he may not sleep restfully. Furthermore, heavy snorers tend to develop high blood pressure at a younger age than non-snorers.
 
Some 45 percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight persons, and it usually grows worse with age.

-- 24% of males and 18% of females suffer from snoring
-- 60% of males and 40% of females over the age of 60 snore
-- female snoring increases after menopause
-- 98.5% of snorers exhibit apnic tendencies
-- hypertension is present during wakefulness in about 50% of people with sleep apnea
-- over long periods, sleep apnea results in intellectual and memory deterioration
-- loudness of snoring may reach as high as 90db
-- workman's compensation requires ear protection in work place at 90db

Persons who snore have at least one of the following problems:

Poor muscle tone (lack of tightness) in the muscles of the tongue and throat. Flabby muscles allow
the tongue to fall backwards into the airway or allow the throat muscles to be drawn in from the sides into the airway. This occurs when the person's muscular control is too relaxed from alcohol or from drugs which cause sleepiness. It also happens in some persons when they relax in the deep-sleep stages.
 
Excessive bulkiness of tissues of the throat. Large tonsils and adenoids, for example, commonly
cause snoring in children. Overweight persons also have bulky neck tissues. Cysts or tumors could also be present, but they are rare.
 
Excessive length of the soft palate and uvula. A long palate may narrow the opening from the nose
into the throat. As it dangles in the airway, it acts as a flutter valve during relaxed breathing, and
contributes to the noise of snoring. A long uvula makes matters even worse.
 
Obstructed nasal airways. When a person has a stuffy or blocked-up nose he must pull hard to inhale air through it. This creates an exaggerated vacuum in his throat, in the collapsible part of the airway, and it pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat. So snoring occurs even in persons who would not snore if they could breathe through the nose properly. This explains why some people snore only during the hay fever season, or when they have a cold or sinus infection. Also, deformities of the nose or nasal septum frequently cause such obstruction. "Deviated septum" is a common term for a deformity inside the nose in the wall that separates one nostril from the other.
 
Persons with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may spend little of their night-time hours in the deep-sleep stages that are essential for a good rest. Therefore, they awaken unrefreshed and are sleepy much of the day. They may fall asleep while driving to work or while on the job.

Can Snoring be Cured?

By far the majority of snorers can be helped.

For adults who are mild or occasional snorers, the following self-help remedies are worth trying:

 
 
Heavy snorers, those who snore in any position they sleep in, and so-called "obnoxious snorers" need more help than the suggestions above. When snoring becomes disruptive to the life of the snorer or his family, medical advice should be sought, especially if other household members suspect the existence of the obstructive breathing disorder, sleep apnea (very loud snoring with periods when all airflow stops - even though the snorer is trying to breathe).
 
The heavy snorer deserves a thorough examination of the nose, mouth, palate, throat, and neck. Studies in a sleep laboratory are valuable to determine how serious the snoring is and what effects it has on the snorer's health. Treatment will depend, of course, on the diagnosis. It may be as simple as managing a nasal allergy or infection, surgically correcting a nasal deformity, or removing tonsils and adenoids. Or, the snoring may respond best to surgery on the throat and palate to tighten up flabby tissues and expand the air passages. This is a recently developed operation called the UvuloPalatoPharyngoPlasty (UPPP). To the patient, it feels like having a tonsillectomy. Life-threatening cases of obstructive sleep apnea might require a tracheotomy (an operation which creates an opening into the windpipe).
 
Every chronically snoring child should also be thoroughly examined. Medical evidence suggests a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy will probably make an important difference in the health and well-being of the child.
 
Remember, snoring means obstructed breathing, and obstruction can be serious. It's not funny, and it's definitely not hopeless.
 
 
This information is taken from an American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Public Service Brochure: Snoring: Not Funny, Not Hopeless.
 
©1995. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. This leaflet is published as a public service. The material may be freely used for noncommercial purposes so long as attributation is given to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. One Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3357