Snoring is a common sleep disorder that can affect all people at any age, although it occurs more frequently in men and people who are overweight.

What Causes Snoring?

The physical obstruction of the flow of air through the mouth and nose is the cause of snoring. The walls of the throat vibrate during breathing, resulting in the distinctive sounds of snoring.

What Are the Health Risks of Snoring?

Habitual snorers can be at risk for serious health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea is an illness that is often associated with chronic snoring. This condition creates several problems, including:

• Long interruptions of breathing (more than 10 seconds) during sleep caused by partial or total obstruction or blockage of the airway. Serious cases can have total blockage episodes hundreds of times per night.
• Frequent waking from sleep, even though he or she may not realize it.
• Blood oxygen levels are often lowered, which causes the heart to pump harder and blood pressure to rise. The result is a poor night's sleep, which leads to drowsiness during the day and can interfere with the persons quality of life. Prolonged suffering from obstructed sleep apnea will result in higher blood pressure and may cause enlargement of the heart, with higher risks of heart attack and stroke.

Treatments

If you occasionally snore, you can try the following behavior changes to help treat the problem:

• Lose weight and improve your eating habits.
• Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines before you go to bed.
• Avoid alcohol, heavy meals, or snacks at least four hours before you sleep.
• Establish regular sleeping patterns. For example, try to go to bed at the same time every night.
• Sleep on your side rather than on your back.
• Tilt the head of your bed up four inches.

If none of the above mentioned behavioral changes help snoring, talk to your  CENT doctor. We offer a variety of treatment options that may reduce or eliminate snoring or sleep apnea.