INTRODUCTION: Snoring is produced by a narrowing of your airways, either from poor sleep position or abnormalities of the soft tissues in your throat. It can be mild, meaning that it stops when you awake and turn over, or severe, when you suffer continually, regardless of sleep orientation. It is known to cause sleep deprivation to both the snorer and those who hear him/her, as well as effects such as daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of concentration, diminished libido.

It’s a condition that increases with age and is usually harmless. Snoring is more common in people who are overweight. Statistics are often contradictory, but at least 30% of adults and perhaps as many as 50% of people in some demographics snore.

APNEA: The word “apnea” means the lack of breathing. Besides the ‘noise’, more complex problems such as sleep apnea can be consistent with the symptom of snoring. If your child snores often, have your doctor check for sleep apnea. While snoring is caused by narrow airways, sleep apnea is a real breathing obstruction, which requires the sleeper to awaken to begin breathing again. A person with this problem wakes up many times a night to regain breathing, but often remembers nothing at all about the awakenings.

Snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, but by itself does not involve the cessation of breathing. About one-half of people who snore loudly have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Not all persons with these problems are overweight. But weight gain will make existing snoring or apnea become worse. Avoid alcohol, muscle relaxants, and certain medications. Such substances are known to increase these sleep problems.

TREATMENT: Nearly all treatments revolves around clearing the blockage in the breathing passage. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a fairly new surgical treatment. This treatment applies radiofrequency energy and heat (between 77C to 85C) to the soft tissue at the rear of the throat, such as the soft palate and uvula, producing scarring of the tissue beneath the skin. The procedure takes less than 1 hour, is often performed on an outpatient basis, and often requires several treatment sessions.

See your MD or dentist to discuss the medical treatments available and to decide which might aid you. The treatment you need depends on whether you have simple snoring or with sleep apnea. If you do have sleep apnea, then your treatment will also depend on the severity of your condition. It requires careful monitoring of your treatment.

CONCLUSION: Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. It can be reduced by changing position on the bed. Sleeping on the side is a possible solution. To avoid rolling back it is possible to place a pillow or a “ball” on the back; raising the head is also another option, useful both while lying on the back or for supporting the head while lying on the side.

It is a condition that can affect both the physical and social intimacies of a relationship and can also be a sign of sleep apnea, which can be life-endangering. It not only effects your self, but also everyone around you.

By knowing the causes and cures, you can better your health, your relationships, and, of course, your sleep. Habitual snoring has been found in about 24 percent of adult women and 40 percent of adult men. The Majority of people don’t know that just by changing variables in your environment (like the temperature inside your room), you could put up a good fight against your problem. Smoking tends to produce nasal congestion, thus giving rise to the condition. The best way to prevent it is to quit smoking. Alcohol can also be held responsible for the problem. Reduce your alcohol consumption and that should take care of your snoring problem too.