Have you been told that you snore loudly? Is your snoring followed by silent pauses? Does your snoring wake you or your partner up? At the Montreal Sleep Centre, a team of specialists can assess and treat snoring problems to improve sleep for both the snorer and their partner.
Snoring itself is a phenomenon caused by vibrations of the soft tissues in the throat upon inhalation. This occurs because the muscles in your airway become more relaxed when you sleep. Snoring can occur on its own, or in conjunction with obstructive sleep apnea, in which the throat becomes either partially or completely blocked by soft tissue.
Snoring does not necessarily indicate the presence of apnea, but it is important to rule out sleep apnea syndrome as a cause. A greater relaxation of the airways typically results in a greater effort required to breathe. The volume of the snoring will be proportional to the effort of the snorer, that is, the greater the relaxation, the louder the snoring will be.
In sleep apnea-related snoring, you experience periods of apnea – moments when the airway becomes blocked by soft tissues and causes breathing to slow or stop completely, leading to drops in your blood oxygen levels. Sleepers with sleep apnea may experience microarousals, which are very short periods of awakening (<15 seconds) that restore muscle tone to the throat and restore adequate air passage.
Snoring, no matter how small, can prevent both the snorer and their partner from getting adequate sleep and restful sleep. This can seriously affect the health and quality of life of the sleeper and their partner.
Snoring can be made worse by a number of factors; making it harder to achieve a restful sleep. Among these factors are;
A person having a higher body mass index than 30 is more likely to suffer from severe snoring due to increased likelihood of upper airway collapse.
A person may have an anatomy conducive to snoring through the shape of their mouth, nasal passages, or throat. Some people have tissues that have less muscle tone or simply have less space to allow adequate air passage. A person who suffers from a deviated nasal passage may be forced to breathe exclusively through their mouth when sleeping, encouraging snoring.
Certain illnesses or diseases can reduce the space of the airways or nasal passages, which increases the risk of snoring. If the sleeping person cannot breathe through their nose, they will be forced to breathe through the mouth. Since air passage is less efficient in this way, the risk of snoring increases. Such people may simply have allergies, a cold, or congestion. Other conditions surrounding swelling of the tonsils, throat, or sinuses can also increase the strain and vibration of the air when breathing.
It is sometimes typical for pregnant women to start snoring. This is due to the narrowing of the airways, as a direct result of pregnancy. This is usually temporary and may resolve after pregnancy.
As people age, it is likely to have less muscle tone in the throat, leading to greater collapse of soft tissues and reducing the space available for air passage.
Consumption of products that have a sedative effect tend to relax the muscles of the throat and depress the central nervous system. Studies have shown that consumption of alcohol closer to bedtime causes higher sedative effects on airway tissue.
Treatments to help reduce snoring can vary greatly depending on the severity of the snoring and whether or not the condition is related to sleep apnea. For mild cases, it may be appropriate to simply change some habits or acquire inexpensive anti-snoring devices.
Treatments for serious snoring problems involve first consulting a healthcare professional to properly diagnose the disorder. Treatment may involve the use of a positive air pressure machine (CPAP) or surgery.
A diagnosis can reveal a sleep apnea disorder. This disorder is somewhat of an aggravated form of severe snoring. Apnea involves a range of additional risks to a person’s health and should be treated in the right way.
If you are unsure of the steps to take for snoring assessment and treatment, see a doctor at the Montreal Sleep Centre.
Sleeping on your back can cause your airways to narrow or become blocked. If this happens, you can adjust your position to sleep on one side, or use an orthopedic pillow to improve your comfort.
The Montreal Sleep Centre is dedicated to helping people who snore and their partners improve their sleep. Snoring and sleep apnea are conditions that can be treated. If you suspect that you are suffering from sleep apnea, please contact us to make an appointment.
Snoring is a treatable condition. First, it is important to ensure the snoring is not a result of another condition, namely sleep apnea syndrome. Interventions to help reduce snoring include but are not limited to using an anti-snoring pillow, nasal bands, chinstraps, treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) devices and surgery. Consult one of our physicians specializing in sleep medicine for the treatment best suited to your needs.
Snoring can be caused by many different factors, ranging from individual physiology to congestion to a sleep apnea disorder.
In all cases, snoring requires increased effort to breathe since the airway space is limited. The air circulates with greater force and vibrates the walls of the throat, which results in the sound known as snoring.
Snoring is a relatively common condition. Nearly 50% of adults snore at least on occasion, for example, when experiencing nasal congestion. However, there are different degrees of snoring and health risks depending on the individual. If you experience chronic snoring, or snoring that affects your sleep or that of your bed partner, it is important to discuss this with your physician.
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