Snoring is a common sleep-related problem that affects millions of people across age groups. It is characterised by involuntary noises made while sleeping due to the vibration of relaxed tissues in the throat when air passes through them. The sound may differ for everyone, such as snorting, grunting, whistling, and loud breathing. Most people are unaware of the problem until their partners or family members inform them.
While people overlook snoring as normal, it can be a sign of an underlying problem. It should not be brushed aside by cracking jokes about the condition. If it happens once in a while, it can be considered normal. However, if it happens every night and is affecting your sleep quality, it is necessary to get a sleep consultation. Let us throw some light on whether snoring is normal or a concerning condition. It can help individuals understand their sleep health better.
Is Snoring Normal or Harmful?
Almost everyone snores at some point in their lives due to nasal congestion or any other problem. However, if it is frequent, overly loud and impacts sleep, it becomes a matter of concern. It is vital to understand that chronic snoring does not imply sleep apnea. The individual must take a test for sleep to get diagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that disrupts sleep because of interrupted breathing caused due to reduced airflow because of the obstruction caused by relaxed throat muscles.
It leads to the decline of oxygen level, making the brain send neural signals to breathe with increased force to open up the airways. OSA is a serious health condition that increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. It can be effectively diagnosed by reputed sleep doctors in Gold Coast and treated with the help of CPAP/EPAP therapy, MAS and positional therapy.
Common Reasons for Snoring
Snoring can occur because of various reasons that relax the muscles in the throat, tongue and soft palate, which partially obstruct the airways. The reasons can be:
Sinus or Nasal Congestion
Cough, cold, and congestion are common during changing seasons. The sinus is also responsible for snoring because it makes the person breathe through the mouth due to nasal congestion.
Physiological Issue
Snoring can also result from body-related issues, such as obesity. People who are overweight tend to have extra tissues at the back of their throats that constrict the airway.
Excessive Alcohol Intake
If an individual consumes a lot of alcohol right before sleeping, it can cause snoring because the throat muscles become relaxed.
Old Age
With age, the throat and tongue muscles weaken, leading to snoring.
Sleeping on Your Back
People who sleep on their backs can suffer from snoring because it causes the tongue and soft palate to collapse beside the back of the throat, leading to obstruction of the airways.
Factors That Increase the Risk of Snoring
Certain individuals are more susceptible to snoring because of their lifestyle habits and physiological conditions. These include hereditary OSA, deviated septum, large tonsils or adenoids, and being overweight. In addition, men are more likely to snore or develop sleep apnea than women. It is essential to identify the root cause of snoring by booking a sleep consultation. Expert sleep scientists and practitioners at Rise Sleep Robina recommend at-home sleep study tests that can help in correct diagnosis and treatment.
When to Seek Medical Help for Snoring?
Snoring does not require medical intervention unless other concerning symptoms accompany it. These include breathing pauses while sleeping and waking up gasping, morning headaches, exhaustion during the day, drowsiness, night sweats, irritability and mood swings, and a lack of focus. Sleep disruption caused by gasping and loud snoring several times at night is an indication of an underlying problem that must be examined at sleep clinics in Gold Coast for appropriate diagnosis. Children can also snore at night because of nasal congestion or enlarged tonsils. Parents must consult their paediatricians for treatment.
Treatments for Snoring
Snoring is not a life-threatening problem and can be treated by making lifestyle adjustments. After the doctor identifies the cause of the problem, they will recommend the best treatment. Some of these include losing weight to maintain a healthy body mass index, avoiding alcohol before going to sleep, maintaining a fixed sleeping schedule of at least 7 hours, following the best sleeping posture and treating nasal congestion to keep the airways unobstructed.
Individuals who snore because of OSA must undergo continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or oral appliance therapy (MAS). These involve wearing masks and dental mouthpieces to keep the airways open while sleeping. Sleep doctors at Rise Sleep Health Robina ensure that the devices fit comfortably and are adjusted effectively to offer the best results.
Wrapping Up
Relaxed sleep is essential to stay energised and fit. If your sleep is getting disturbed by snoring, you must visit a sleep doctor to find its cause. The information above can help you stay vigilant and quickly identify sleep-related issues.