Snoring: Causes, Risks, Diagnosis and Available Treatment Options

Snoring occurs when air moves through your throat as you breathe during sleep. This causes the relaxed tissues in your throat to vibrate, resulting in loud or harsh sounds.

Snoring is common and natural for many people. Almost everyone snores at some point, including babies and young children. While snoring may not bother the person who snores, it can be loud enough to disturb others who are trying to sleep. In some cases, it can also interrupt the snorer’s sleep, leaving them feeling tired during the day.

Snoring is not always a problem. At some point in their lives, many people snore. However, it is a good idea to consult a healthcare provider if your snoring is loud or disrupts your sleep quality. Loud, disruptive snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops temporarily during sleep. If your snoring is accompanied by episodes of gasping for air, along with other symptoms like fatigue or irritability, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider.

Symptoms

Snoring sounds can differ from person to person and may include:

• Soft vibrations
• Whistling
• Grumbling
• Snorting
• Rumbling
• People who snore may also:
• Toss and turn in their sleep
• Wake up with a dry or sore throat
• Feel fatigued during the day
• Experience headaches
• Be moody or irritable
• Have trouble focusing

Causes

Air travels through the nose, mouth and throat when you breathe. The airway can be blocked, resulting in tissue vibrations while air passes through:

• The soft palate is the back portion of the roof of your mouth.
• Tonsils
• Adenoids
• Tongue

Snoring is caused by the rumbling, rattling sound produced by these vibrations. Factors that may increase the snoring risks or the snoring causes include:

• Age: As we age, snoring becomes more common due to a decrease in muscle tone, which causes the airways to narrow.
• Alcohol and sedatives: Alcoholic drinks and certain medications relax your muscles, which can restrict airflow through your nose, mouth and throat.
• Anatomy: Enlarged adenoids, large tonsils or a big tongue can obstruct airflow through your nose and mouth. Additionally, a deviated septum (when the cartilage separating your nostrils is misaligned) can also block air passage.
• Sex: Snoring is more common in men than in women.
• Family history: Snoring can be hereditary. If one of your biological parents snores, you are more likely to snore as well.
• Overall health: Nasal congestion from allergies or a cold can block airflow through your nose and mouth. Pregnant individuals are also more prone to snoring due to hormonal changes.
• Weight: Snoring and sleep-related breathing issues are more common in individuals who are overweight (with a BMI over 25) or obese (with a BMI over 30).

Diagnosis

A healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam of your nose, mouth and throat. They will also ask you and possibly your partner some questions, such as:

• How often do you snore?
• What does your snoring sound like?
• Do you feel well-rested during the day?

Sleep study

If your provider suspects you have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnoea, they may suggest a sleep study (polysomnography). This study can sometimes be done at home, but you may also need to stay overnight at a sleep centre.

A sleep study monitors:

• Brain wave activity
• Breathing patterns, including any pauses in breathing or gasping for air
• Heart rate and oxygen levels
• Movements during sleep, like tossing and turning or limb movements
• Sleep cycles and snoring

Treatment

Healthcare providers offer various treatments to help reduce snoring or snoring cures. The best option for you will depend on factors such as the severity of your snoring, your health history and your personal preferences.

• Nonsurgical snoring treatments: They aim to improve your sleep position or help open your airways. These options may include:
• Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes, such as adjusting your sleep position, avoiding alcohol-containing beverages and maintaining a healthy weight, can help reduce snoring.
• Medications: Cold and allergy medications can help relieve nasal congestion, making it easier to breathe.
• Nasal strips: These are flexible bands that adhere to the outside of your nose and can help keep your nasal passages open.
• Oral appliances: Using an oral appliance while you sleep helps keep your jaw in the right position to allow air to flow. Your healthcare provider may refer to it as a mouth device or mouth guard. However, a mouth guard designed for other uses, such as for sports, won’t help with snoring.
• Surgical snoring treatments: In cases of severe snoring, healthcare providers may recommend surgery. Surgery aims to remove or shrink excess tissue or correct structural problems, such as a deviated septum. Surgical options may include:
• Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP): It involves removing excess tissue from the soft palate to enhance airflow.
• Ablation therapy: It is also known as somnoplasty and uses radiofrequency energy to reduce excess tissue in the soft palate and tongue.
• Septoplasty: This procedure may be recommended if you have a deviated septum. It improves nasal airflow by reshaping the cartilage and bone in your nose.
• Tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy: It involves a surgeon removing excess tissue from the back of your throat (tonsils) or the back of your nose (adenoids).

Prevention

Making certain lifestyle changes may help reduce or stop snoring. Here are some suggestions or snoring remedies or snoring solutions:

• Avoid sedatives (like zolpidem, clonazepam and eszopiclone) or alcohol-containing beverages before bed.
• Consult your healthcare provider about medications for nasal congestion relief.
• Stay active, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
• Elevate your head while sleeping to improve airflow.
• It may be beneficial to sleep on your side rather than your back.
• Consider using a snore-reducing pillow to keep your head in the right position while you sleep.

If you are struggling with snoring, it is a good idea to consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice on snoring cures and snoring solutions. They will assess your specific situation, considering factors like the severity of your snoring and any underlying health conditions. Based on this evaluation, they can recommend the most effective treatment options tailored to your needs. Whether it involves lifestyle changes, medical treatments or even surgical procedures, your provider can guide you in managing snoring and improving your sleep quality. Finding the right snoring solutions can make a significant difference in how well you sleep and feel during the day.

Conclusion

Snoring is a common and typically harmless condition. However, if you experience loud, chronic snoring that disrupts your sleep, it could signal a more serious problem. Symptoms such as daytime fatigue, irritability, headaches or gasping for air during sleep may indicate sleep apnoea. If you are unsure whether snoring is affecting your health, it is a good idea to see a healthcare provider. They can identify the cause of your snoring and advise whether treatment is needed.