Snoring involves loud noises during sleep that are caused by the upper airway. Snoring is divided into primary snoring and obstructive snoring. In the first form, no other respiratory arrhythmias occur. In obstructive snoring, breathing disorders or shortness of breath may occur. In this context, the typical snoring disease of sleep apnea is also found. Approximately 70 percent of all men snore in their lifetime. Mostly, however, snoring occurs after the age of 50. Women snore statistically less.
What is snoring?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy of the pharynx in snoring and sleep apnea syndrome. Click to enlarge. The term snoring is used to describe sounds that a sleeper produces with the airways. Doctors also call normal snoring compensated snoring. It has no disease value. The older you get, the more likely you are to snore. Men are affected more often than women. If the snoring is heavy, the supply of oxygen can be disturbed. In this context, the sleep disorder of sleep apnea also arises. In this case it is obstructive snoring. Obstructive snoring is considered a sleep-related breathing disorder if it occurs regularly. The technical terms are rhonchopathy, upper airway resistance syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. There is still debate as to whether upper airway resistance syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are one disorder or two different forms, or whether they are two severities of the same syndrome. Studies have shown that obstructive snoring leads to an increased risk of hypertension, stroke, or heart attack.
Causes
Snoring is caused by movement of the soft palate, pharyngeal uvula, base of the tongue or pharynx that is created during sleep. Curvatures of the nasal septum, inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, enlarged turbinates or allergies can cause snoring individually or in combination. These conditions cause the flow of breath to be interrupted for a short period of time, resulting in a snoring or rattling sound called snoring. Other causes of snoring can be found in the room and in the sleeping position. Too dry room air, bed mites or supine position promote snoring. Being overweight can also lead to increased snoring. A genetic predisposition can be the cause of snoring. In addition, alcohol consumption or the use of sleeping pills, narcotics, tranquilizers or psychotropic drugs can contribute to the slackening of the soft palate and the onset of snoring sounds. So some causes of snoring can be minimized or prevented.
Diseases with this symptom
- Sleep apnea
- Adenoid
- Sinusitis
- Obesity
- Nasal septum curvature
- Nasal polyps
Complications
Snoring can affect the sleeper in several ways. First, excessive snoring will reduce sleep quality, causing difficulty concentrating and daytime fatigue. In addition, if nighttime sleep is disturbed for an extended period of time, the risk for accidents in everyday life increases. Snoring increases the risk of high blood pressure, which can be a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In the long term, excessive snoring can also cause drying of the oral mucosa and increase the risk of tooth decay. Patients with pronounced sleep apnea are particularly at risk. The condition triggers permanent stress reactions in the body, increasing the risk of serious cardiovascular disease. If a snoring disorder is not treated early, it can lead to further complications, which always depend on the severity of the disease and the constitution of the patient. A snoring disorder also often puts a strain on the partner and can lead to relationship conflicts and thus to further stress and an intensification of the secondary symptoms. If snoring is treated surgically, it can lead to secondary bleeding and long-term problems such as difficulty swallowing or open nasal passages. In contrast, complications are relatively rare with treatment via laser.
When should you see a doctor?
Snoring while sleeping is nothing unusual to begin with. Many people tend to snore and usually do not even know it.Snoring can also be caused by illness, so a doctor should definitely be consulted. But which doctor is the right one? If snoring at night becomes a burden on a person, it should be clarified what the snoring is caused by. If the loud snoring disturbs the environment and the volume or makes you wake up from it, a doctor should be consulted from then on. The causes must be found out, in order to introduce the correct and individual therapy. Specialists, such as a lung specialist or an ear, nose and throat specialist are the right place to start. Of course, the family doctor or internist will also take the patient’s medical history. He or she will then refer the patient to a specialist for sleep medicine diagnostics. A sleep laboratory can comprehensively search for the cause of nocturnal snoring. These sleep labs can detect or rule out sleep apnea and other conditions early.
Treatment and therapy
Schematic representation of breathing in snoring. Click to enlarge. Obstructive snoring and sleep apnea belong to medical treatment. A sleep laboratory can determine what type of disorder is present. Surgical interventions such as surgical tightening of the soft palate and pharyngeal mucosa or partial removal of the pharyngeal uvula sometimes make sense. More successful against snoring is the removal of the palatine tonsils. More recently, the palate is treated with radiofrequency therapy. Snoring is reduced in this way. Snoring can also be treated by radiofrequency-assisted uvulopalato-plasty and removal of excess tissue from the palatal arches and uvula. Soft palate implants show little promise against snoring. If the cause of snoring is a deviated nasal septum or enlarged turbinates, surgical straightening is possible. Chronic sinusitis as a cause of snoring is treated with various measures. Nasal plasters or anti-snoring devices promise more success than they achieve. A jaw protrusion splint, which adjusts the sleeper’s lower jaw, makes more sense. In addition, one can train a different sleeping position. Wearing a mask for nighttime positive pressure ventilation is considered by most snorers to be more annoying than the snoring itself.
Outlook and prognosis
Snoring usually poses no health risks and does not require treatment. However, if breathing stops or other sleep disturbances occur, a visit to the doctor is recommended. If left untreated, sleep apnea increases the patient’s mortality fourfold and reduces life expectancy by about ten years. Although the prognosis is not life-threatening, patients may experience prolonged breathing cessations depending on the severity of the condition. Nasal snoring, such as occurs as a result of a too-tight nose or due to rhinitis and allergies, promises a positive prognosis if the symptoms are treated quickly. Oral snoring, if left untreated, can lead to the development of infections in the oral cavity or the swallowing of foreign bodies. In tongue snoring, there is a risk of swallowing the tongue, which can lead to respiratory failure. If the snoring is caused by a cyst, for example, this must first be treated. This is accompanied by a decrease in snoring. In general, therefore, if snoring is detected early and there is no serious underlying condition, those affected have the prospect of a full recovery without complications or long-term consequences.
Prevention
With a change in sleeping position or elevation of the head, snoring can often be more effectively remedied, as it occurs in the supine position. Reducing excess weight and alcohol drunk in the evening is also effective in helping snoring, as is eliminating narcotic medications, increasing humidity, or reducing bed mites by using hypoallergenic filling materials and protective coverings. One may be able to reduce snoring with a snoring bandage. Muscle training with a didgeridoo has also been shown to be helpful against snoring. Additionally, regular jogging or hiking is a good preventative measure against snoring. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise in the fresh air not only increases overall well-being, but also contributes to better and deeper sleep.
Here’s what you can do yourself
There are several ways and home remedies to reduce snoring.The easiest way is to change the sleeping position and sleep in the prone position. In addition, it helps to expand the airways before bedtime by taking a steam bath with table salt or a snoring patch. Essential oils clear the throat and lungs and can be placed in a bowl next to the bed, which also humidifies the air in the room and makes it easier to breathe through at night. Regular snorers should air their bedroom before going to bed and ensure a pleasant room climate. There may also be a house dust or mite allergy that needs to be treated by a doctor. Those who suffer from overweight can reduce snoring in the long term by losing weight. In addition, alcohol should not be drunk before going to bed, as this makes the soft palate slacken and thus promotes snoring. If the partner snores, it can help to gently touch the larynx or throat, to stroke the bridge of the nose, or to slightly raise the sleeping position of the upper body. If snoring becomes a nuisance, a doctor should be consulted at the latest.
