Snoring – A Common Problem

Snoring is a condition affecting 30% of the adult population over the age of 30. Men are affected nearly 3 times more than women, although this gap closes after menopause. And as common as snoring is, most people know very little about it. And perhaps more people deny suffering from it!

Similar to Sleep Apnea, Snoring is considered a form of “Sleep Disorder” (SD) and more specifically a “Sleep Breathing Disorder” (SBD). Sleep Disorders are defined as any event that disturbs disrupts, or otherwise prevents restful and refreshing sleep.

Do you want to see if snoring is affecting your health? Take our Snoring Assessment Survey and find out.

Snoring – Why Do We Snore?

Snoring is caused by an increase in resistance on the upper airway at some point along the path. This “path” begins in the nasal region and extends all the way down ending where the windpipe begins. There are lots of ways that this pathway can be affected. Some people have a long soft palate leaving more soft tissue along the path of airflow. Some people have large tonsils and adenoids which reduces the volume of airflow considerably. Some people have large tongues or their tongue location is not optimal creating more resistance along the airway. Gravity is not our friend when we lay down at night to sleep. The reason we don’t notice its impact on our breathing during the day is that when we are awake we can increase or decrease our rate of breathing voluntarily since we can engage a certain group of muscles that we cannot access when we sleep. The vertical versus the horizontal position also places extra resistance on the flow of air.

Snoring – Risk Factors

When looking at habitual snoring, we see some common risk factors. These include age over 40, obesity, smoking, and alcohol use. Of course, men are 3 times more likely than women to suffer from habitual snoring. What these indicate is if you snore and you see yourself meeting these risk factors, then you can improve your snoring by making some lifestyle changes. Maintaining an ideal body weight not only helps reduce snoring but also reduces the workload on your heart daily. Smoking places the lungs and our hearts under tremendous stress. Smoking less (or quitting altogether) will have an immense impact on more than your quality of breathing.

Is Snoring Unhealthy?

Some people do not care if they snore or how much they snore. Habitual snoring, much like sleep apnea, places a greater load of work on the heart and lungs when the patient sleeps. Over time, this overload will lead to serious consequences for these organs and their level of functionality. It’s similar to overusing the engine of a car. It will simply not last as long and may even break down more often while the car is in use. The same can be said for the cardiovascular health of the patient. High blood pressure and heart disease are often seen in patients who snore.

We cannot forget about the bed partner. These people are usually sleep-deprived as well. And it’s not because they too have a sleep-breathing disorder. It’s because of all the snoring by their partner. And when it gets too much to bear, they will simply find another place to sleep. Not only does snoring place an extra load on the heart, but it also makes the patient’s social life more complicated.

Treatment Recommendations

Treatment for this breathing disorder depends on the location of the obstruction which causes the snoring. And sometimes there may be more than one location that may be involved. Some snoring can be treated with the use of an oral appliance the patient places inside their mouth when they sleep. Some cases require the removal of excessive soft tissue such as the tonsils, adenoids, and roof of the mouth. Sometimes the nose and the nasal passages may need to be remodeled with surgery. Contact us now to schedule your consultation with our doctor to see how we can help you eliminate your snoring.