The sound of snoring: how it appears and what its intensity depends on

Almost everyone wonders whether snoring can be cured. This condition occurs in 60% of the entire population of the planet; it can occur episodically or be chronic.

Most often, snoring occurs at night; this occurs due to the general relaxation of all muscles, including the upper respiratory tract.

The disturbance worsens the quality of sleep of the sleeper and all people who are in the same room with him, so you need to know how to get rid of the pathology.

What it is

The disorder may also occur due to insufficient soft tissue tone. During the day, all our muscles are tense, but during sleep they completely relax. A person’s snoring can occur due to the fact that the loose walls of the pharynx come into contact with each other or the gap between them becomes too narrow.

These problems cannot start out of the blue; they are caused by certain factors that need to be identified for effective elimination.

Reasons for violation

To understand what snoring is and how to deal with it, you need to find out what caused it. The disorder is diagnosed in older people more often than in young people, as it occurs due to the aging process and loss of tone of all muscles of the body. However, middle-aged people and even children can make characteristic sounds during sleep.

Let's figure out why a person snores in his sleep:

1. Mouth breathing. Quite often, snoring during sleep occurs due to the fact that a person cannot breathe normally through the nose; air enters the body through the mouth. This leads to dryness of the pharyngeal mucosa and the appearance of soft tissue vibrations. Most often, this disorder is associated with diseases of the upper respiratory tract; you can get rid of it by treating the root cause.
2. Chronic inflammatory processes. The causes of severe snoring during sleep may lie in chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. Nasal congestion and inflammation of its mucous membrane (rhinitis), sinusitis, tonsillitis and other infectious lesions lead to the fact that a person snores heavily during sleep.
3. The presence of neoplasms in the nasal cavity. Polyps, enlarged tonsils, adenoids, synechiae and other neoplasms are common causes of snoring. Oncogenic tumors can also form in the nose, causing respiratory dysfunction.
4. Anatomical features. The answer to the question of why we snore may lie in the anatomical structure of the respiratory tract. If a person has congenital anomalies in the development of the pharynx or nose, a deviated nasal septum, an enlarged palatal tongue, malocclusion, hypertrophy or hypotrophy of the jaws, he may make characteristic sounds when breathing in his sleep.
5. Allergy. The causes of snoring may lie in allergic diseases. In the presence of bronchial asthma, allergic cough or rhinitis, accumulations of mucus form in the nasopharynx, which leads to breathing problems.
6. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). This disease is characterized by complete temporary cessation of breathing during night sleep. After it, the person takes a strong breath, accompanied by vibrations of soft tissues.
7. Overweight. People who are overweight suffer from snoring quite often. The disorder is due to the fact that fat deposits on the face and neck lead to a narrowing of the gap between the muscles of the pharynx. In this case, getting rid of snoring is impossible without stabilizing your weight.
8. Alcohol abuse. Periodic or constant consumption of alcohol leads to a significant decrease in muscle tone, they become flabby and inelastic. In this case, complete abstinence from alcohol will help eliminate snoring.
9. Tobacco smoking. Tobacco smoke injures the muscles of the pharynx, it irritates them and can even lead to the replacement of muscle tissue with scar tissue. This explains why smokers snore.
10. Sleeping pills. Snoring may occur due to the use of sleeping pills. They lead to complete relaxation of the muscles, which causes problems with the supply of oxygen to the body.

How dangerous is the condition?

The characteristic sounds when inhaling and exhaling air during sleep pose a great danger to a person. First of all, complete cessation of breathing occurs approximately once every 1 minute, or up to 400 times throughout the night.

Serious diseases of the cardiovascular system can also develop with snoring:

• increased blood pressure;
• heart rhythm disturbance;
• ischemia;
• diabetes mellitus (most often type 2).

The causes and treatment of the disorder must be identified as quickly as possible, since in some cases, sleep apnea can be fatal.

It is especially important to carry out timely treatment for snoring if a person has serious respiratory diseases. Only a doctor can help reduce the intensity of the disease or eliminate it completely.

Troubleshooting methods

People often wonder whether it is possible to get rid of snoring completely. It is quite possible to do this, but only if the root cause of the violation is eliminated. Well-designed therapy helps to cure the condition. This may include:

• use of medications;
• surgical intervention;
• special gymnastics;
• the use of special devices that help get rid of severe snoring;
• folk remedies.

What to do if a person snores and how to deal with snoring, the doctor decides after a detailed study of the problem and a series of tests.

For some patients, simply adjusting their lifestyle is enough, and the problem goes away on its own. Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment for the diseases that provoked the disorder. In certain situations, snoring can only be treated through surgery.

Use of medications

Before you can cure snoring, you need to accurately identify its cause. In case of an allergic nature, corticosteroid and vasoconstrictor drugs will help get rid of it. These are nasal drops that relieve swelling from the mucous membrane and help improve breathing. Medicines can also be prescribed that eliminate both the cause of the disorder and its symptoms. Let's consider their features.

Name of the drug Mechanism of action Benefits

"Snorex"	Relieves inflammation and swelling, eliminates germs from mucous membranes, restores normal breathing.	Hypoallergenic biospray provides a comprehensive effect on the body, helps get rid of snoring once and for all, and begins to work from the first use.
MySleepGood	Reduces vibration of the tissues of the soft palate, the volume and intensity of snoring.	Helps to quickly recover from snoring, maintains the effect throughout the night, over time leads to complete elimination of the problem, is not addictive, and contains completely natural ingredients.
"Asonor"	Strengthens the muscles of the palate, moisturizes the mucous membranes.	Helps get rid of the symptoms of the disorder, has a minimum of contraindications, and is suitable for use in complex therapy.
"Slipex"	A natural remedy that eliminates dryness from mucous membranes due to its enveloping properties.	Suitable for those who do not know how to stop snoring caused by dry mucous membranes, it contains natural substances.
"Doctor Snoring"	Increases muscle tone, fights irritation and swelling.	It will help patients who do not know how to cure snoring of allergic or inflammatory origin.

Gymnastics

How to treat snoring with loss of muscle tone? With the help of special gymnastics. The exercises are aimed at eliminating muscle looseness. They will help increase the elasticity of the tissues in the throat and mouth. Let's consider what to do when snoring to eliminate it.

1. Pronunciation of "s" and "and". Every day, morning and evening, you need to pronounce the letters “s” and “i” in turn. They do this with effort; the muscles of the pharynx, mouth and lips must be involved. Do 30 approaches in one session for one sound.
2. Protrusion of the tongue. The exercise is indicated for those who do not know how to get rid of snoring during sleep. You need to extend your tongue out of your mouth as much as possible and try to touch its tip to your chin. At the lowest point, we pause for a few seconds and pronounce the letter “i”. You need to do protrusions in the morning and evening 30 times.
3. Holding a pencil. The exercise is suitable for those who are wondering how to deal with snoring. You need to place a pencil between the side teeth; you can replace it with a pen or any other object of a similar shape. The teeth are clenched as tightly as possible; you need to hold out in this position for 4 minutes. Do exercises before going to bed.

Special devices

For people who do not know how to stop snoring, manufacturers offer special devices that can be placed inside the mouth, on the nose or on the body. It can be:

• Anti-snoring clips, which are reflexology devices. They affect the reflex centers of the nose and nasopharynx; manufacturers promise complete elimination of the problem with regular use. Before getting rid of annoying snoring, you need to consult a doctor.
• Mouthguards. Suitable for those who do not know how to overcome snoring due to malocclusion. The devices reduce the volume and intensity of breathing sounds made during sleep and eliminate teeth grinding.
• Watch on hand. A special watch with a sound sensor will show you how to cope with snoring. They are equipped with a mechanism that reacts to the occurrence of loud sounds during breathing and gives a weak electrical discharge that wakes up the sleeper.
• Patch. Helps eliminate problems with nasal congestion or abnormal structure. It acts by stretching the wings of the nose. Combating snoring with the help of this device will be effective only in simple cases.

There are also traditional medicine recipes and special massages to stimulate biologically active points on the body.

When snoring appears, how to get rid of it needs to be decided competently and carefully. Most of the tools and devices at the moment are completely useless and will only help you say goodbye to money, but not to the problem.

In conclusion

You need to know why snoring is dangerous and how it is treated. If a violation occurs, you should definitely visit a doctor who will prescribe you the most effective therapy.

During treatment, they fight both the causes of snoring and the snoring itself. Do not choose questionable drugs and devices to eliminate the problem; before using any method or remedy, consult a doctor so as not to harm your health.

Dasha Pashchenko

Source: https://sladson.ru/apnoeh/osobennosti/kak-izbavitsya-ot-hrapa.html

What are the causes and treatment of snoring?

Snoring is a problem that is relevant for many people and their relatives. The sounds themselves made by a person during sleep are not considered a pathology, but doctors consider the occurrence of snoring to be a dangerous symptom that may indicate improper functioning of the body.

Kinds

When encountering snoring for the first time, many patients involuntarily wonder what it is like. In modern medicine, it is customary to distinguish two main types of snoring:

In the case of an uncomplicated form of the pathology, the patient makes unpleasant sounds in his sleep due to the fact that his muscles in the area of ​​the soft palate and the tongue itself are too weak. Due to excessive relaxation, the muscles partially block the respiratory passages and begin to vibrate under gusts of air, which leads to snoring.

This type of snoring is quite rare and is considered the safest.

The reasons for the narrowing of the airways can be varied and always require careful analysis and elimination.

Why does a person snore

The reasons why complicated snoring occurs are very diverse. Thus, there are a number of diseases that can affect a person’s sleep and lead to the appearance of characteristic sounds. These include:

• changes in the processes of nasal breathing, which can occur both due to nasal congestion and, for example, due to abnormal structure of the nasal septum or other congenital anomalies;
• a tumor of a benign or malignant type may grow in the path of air, which will also interfere with the full passage of air flow;
• inflammation in the nasopharynx also leads to narrowing of the airways due to inflammation and swelling of the tissues;
• diseases of an allergic nature can narrow the airways until snoring occurs;
• pathologies of the endocrine organs, such as the pituitary gland or thyroid gland, can lead to snoring;
• attacks of sleep apnea;
• injury or stroke.

  Will snoring go away after childbirth?

There are also reasons that increase a person’s tendency to snore. These include:

• the presence of excess weight, due to which fat can be deposited on the walls of the nasopharynx, leading to a narrowing of the airways and the appearance of a specific sound;
• tendency to drink alcohol, leading to excessive muscle relaxation;
• smoking habit, especially before bedtime;
• excessive or irrational use of sleeping pills.

Snoring rarely has a single cause. Much more often, everything is explained by the complex effect on the body of several pathological factors at once.

Therapy

It is important for patients to remember that a universal treatment that can accurately eliminate snoring has not yet been invented by anyone. On the other hand, various pharmaceutical companies offer a huge number of different products that help combat the problem.

There are sprays, tablets, patches, and various medical devices for snoring.

Treatment with medications is often aimed at eliminating not only the symptom itself, but also the cause of its occurrence. Depending on the type of problem, patients may be advised to:

• antihistamines designed to fight allergies;
• anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve swelling;
• antibacterial agents designed to fight bacteria, if the cause of changes in the lumen of the respiratory tract is infection, etc.

Snoring is also treated using highly specialized means, which are perceived by many doctors as symptomatic therapy. In pharmacies you can find a variety of sprays and tablets. The active substances included in their composition tone muscle fibers, preventing the walls of the soft palate from relaxing too much during sleep.

Medical devices can also affect snoring. They are used as symptomatic remedies to get rid of uncomplicated snoring.

Treatment of a complicated form of pathology is based on CPAP therapy, which has long passed all clinical trials and has proven its effectiveness. It is especially often used to combat sleep apnea.

  Snoring with a sore throat in a child and what to do about it

Surgery

Surgical treatment of snoring, in contrast to drug therapy, is often aimed at eliminating the exact cause of the pathology. Surgery-based treatment involves removing structures that interfere with the free passage of air through the airways.

The question of whether surgical treatment is relevant should be decided by the doctor. This technique is used in cases where it is necessary to correct a crooked nasal septum, remove polyps in the nasal cavity or any tumor formations.

Surgery is also used to remove enlarged pharyngeal tonsils that may be obstructing the free passage of air into the throat.

ethnoscience

Snoring can be treated not only with medication, but also with the help of traditional medicine.

It is important to remember that folk recipes do not eliminate the cause of snoring, but only relieve symptoms, therefore their use as primary therapy is strictly prohibited.

Treatment with folk remedies can be based on the following recipes:

• before going to bed, you can take a tablespoon of sunflower oil orally, which will soften the walls of the throat and have a tonic effect on the muscles and blood vessels;
• an infusion of oak bark with calendula will help strengthen the muscle walls of the nasopharynx; it is used for rinsing before bed;
• ginseng in the form of a decoction also strengthens the pharyngeal muscles and reduces the intensity of snoring;
• Eucalyptus inhalations will not only have a tonic effect, but will also destroy pathogenic bacteria if done before bedtime.

Treatment with traditional recipes offers a large number of options that will help reduce the intensity of sounds. Even if this treatment is effective, it is still necessary to consult a doctor to find out whether snoring is dangerous.

General recommendations

People who suffer from snoring are also advised to follow general recommendations, which include:

• the need to carefully monitor your own weight and, if there is a need for this, engage in its reduction;
• giving up bad habits, among which alcohol and smoking come first;
• creating the correct sleep and wakefulness regime with the expectation that sleep lasts at least 8 hours daily;
• selection of a special orthopedic pillow;
• developing the habit of falling asleep on your side, and not on your back, which will prevent your tongue from retracting;
• You can also resort to a special set of exercises that will help increase the muscle tone of the nasopharynx and improve overall well-being.

It is important for patients to remember that following general recommendations will not get rid of snoring on the first night. You will have to do exercises and lead a healthy lifestyle regularly if a person wants to achieve a lasting effect.

Treatment of snoring, even if there is every reason to believe that it is uncomplicated, should preferably be carried out under close medical supervision.

Dealing with unpleasant sounds that occur during sleep is, most often, not a quick task and requires systematicity and perseverance.

Under the competent guidance of a doctor, following all his recommendations, you will be able to cope with snoring and, possibly, prevent more serious health problems.

Source: https://hrapless.ru/priznaki-i-simptomy/kakie-hrap-imeet-prichiny-i-lechenie.html

What is snoring and how to get rid of it

What is snoring? This is a harsh sound that people make while sleeping. It causes inconvenience to the partner and threatens the health of the snoring person.

Snoring occurs for various reasons and comes in different types. Read in this article about the causes and symptoms of snoring, why it is dangerous for your health and relationships, and how to get rid of it.

Why do people snore?

Snoring often occurs or intensifies with age, when a person’s throat narrows and the tone of adjacent tissues decreases. But sometimes young people and even children snore.

The flow of air during breathing causes the tissues in the back of the throat to vibrate, resulting in a loud, sharp sound - often when inhaling. Sound comes out through the nose, mouth, or a combination of both.

People snore more when they sleep on their back. Usually, if the sleeper turns over on his side, snoring decreases or stops. In severe cases, a person may wake up to their own snoring.

Causes of snoring

Snoring occurs due to difficulty breathing and/or relaxed throat muscles. Various reasons lead to this condition.

• Allergy. As a rule, during an allergy, the nose is stuffy and it’s hard to breathe.
• Colds or infectious diseases also block the airways.
• A deviated septum, which divides the nose into two nostrils, occurs after injury.
• Enlarged tonsils and adenoids - this problem provokes snoring in children.
• Alcohol and smoking relax the throat tissue.
• Excess weight narrows the air passages.
• Some medications - for example, tranquilizers. They also relax the throat muscles.
• Physiological features - narrow airways, long soft palate and uvula.
• The position of the body when the tissues relax and prevent the passage of air during breathing. More often it is sleeping on your back. But it may be in a different situation.

Obvious and non-obvious symptoms of snoring

The most obvious symptom of snoring is a loud, harsh sound. But there are also non-obvious signs. For example, when a person wakes up with a dry mouth or sore throat.

What is snoring and how to get rid of itPhoto: Depositphotos

Here are a few more non-obvious symptoms of snoring:

• I want to sleep during the day;
• a person suffocates in his sleep;
• breathing is uneven, with pauses;
• headache in the morning;
• difficult to concentrate;
• bad mood, irritability or even depression;
• frequent urge to go to the toilet at night.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, you may have sleep apnea, a condition in which your breathing stops for 10 to 30 seconds several times a night.

Apnea occurs when the back wall of the throat collapses. During sleep, the muscles of the respiratory tract relax and block the flow of air. The person is choking and snoring. In severe cases, breathing is interrupted up to several hundred times per night.

Apnea is dangerous to health because it causes a lack of oxygen in the body. This leads to various pathologies:

• high blood pressure;
• heart disease;
• stroke;
• diabetes;
• depression.

Only a doctor can diagnose apnea - in a special sleep laboratory or based on the results of a home study. There are several methods for treating pathology - from therapy to surgery. Which one to choose is decided by a specialist based on the results of the examination.

How is snoring diagnosed?

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor examines the patient’s sleep in a special laboratory - a sleep center. This is a room with a bed, similar to a hotel room. The patient spends the night in it.

While a person sleeps, special sensors on his body record the necessary parameters: brain waves, heart rate, breathing intensity, etc. Doctors recommend this test for severe forms of snoring.

There is a special test for apnea. It uses simpler equipment than for night sleep studies. A special device collects information about a person’s breathing during sleep and the level of oxygen in the blood. The test can be done at home.

The doctor chooses the type of testing based on various indicators:

• the degree of likelihood of sleep apnea in a particular patient;
• the presence or absence of lung, heart and neuromuscular disorders.

Before prescribing an examination, the doctor finds out the details of the patient’s condition: his bad habits, whether the person has recently gained weight, what medications he has taken, etc. These details will help the specialist understand how likely serious pathologies are.

What are the types of snoring and what do they indicate?

By the way a person snores, one can determine the probable cause of the pathology. There are several types of snoring.

1. When a person snores while lying on his back with his mouth open, this indicates weak laryngeal muscles.
2. Snoring with your mouth closed (in any body position) indicates a problem with the tongue.
3. Snoring, which does not depend on the position of the body during sleep, is a severe form and requires medical intervention. This type of pathology is treated comprehensively.

How to relieve snoring yourself

The symptoms of snoring can be alleviated on your own with simple techniques, exercises and a healthy lifestyle.

What is snoring and how to get rid of itPhoto: Depositphotos

Simple tricks to help you breathe easier

These tips will help you breathe easier while you sleep and relieve the symptoms of snoring.

1. Change your sleeping position: raise your head 10 centimeters. This will make breathing easier because the jaw and tongue will move forward. There are special pillows that provide the head and neck with the correct position, in which a person snores less.
2. Sleep on your side. This habit can be trained if necessary. Alternatively, sew a sock onto the back of your pajamas and place a tennis ball in it. Then lying on your back will be uncomfortable and you will turn on your side in your sleep.
3. Clear your nasal passages if your nose is stuffy. Before going to bed, rinse your sinuses with a saline solution or use a spray to ease your breathing.
4. Reduce irritating factors if you are prone to allergies. For example, regularly vacuum and dust the bedroom. Do not allow pets there. And take allergy medications.
5. Maintain humidity in the bedroom. Dry air irritates the membranes in the nose and throat, causing tissue swelling. A humidifier will help solve this problem.

Exercises to train the soft tissues of the throat

To get even greater effect, supplement these measures with special exercises. Their essence is to strengthen the muscles of the tongue and larynx.

1. Repeat each consonant sound out loud for three minutes every day.
2. Place the tip of your tongue on your upper front teeth and move it back for three minutes a day.
3. Raise your lips with your mouth closed - hold this state for 30 seconds.
4. Open your mouth and move your jaw to the right. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Then repeat to the left side.
5. With your mouth open, contract the back of your throat for 30 seconds. Observe in the mirror how the “tongue” moves up and down.
6. Sing to exercise the soft tissues of your throat so you can control your laryngeal muscles.

How a healthy lifestyle can help fight snoring

A healthy lifestyle will help increase the effectiveness of anti-snoring techniques and exercises. Here are a few simple rules that will help get rid of pathology.

1. Maintain a healthy weight. An overweight person even has fatty tissue in the back of the throat. If you lose even a little weight, your snoring symptoms will improve.
2. Exercise. Even if you don't lose weight, exercise can help reduce snoring. This happens because you train different parts of the body and keep the whole body in good shape, which also improves the condition of the throat.
3. Stop smoking. Nicotine smoke irritates the airways, causing the tissues to become inflamed, enlarged, and block air flow. Snoring appears. If you get rid of a bad habit, the symptoms of snoring will decrease.
4. Regular use of sleeping pills and sedatives relaxes the muscles of the larynx. This makes it difficult to breathe during sleep and causes snoring.
5. Don't eat too much before bed and choose your meals carefully - some of them increase snoring. Among these “harmful” foods for sleep are regular and soy milk, fatty foods, spicy seasonings, and chocolate. For dinner it is better to eat steamed, boiled and baked dishes.

If you have tried all the methods, but still have not alleviated your condition, consult a doctor. Obviously, the problem requires therapy, and possibly surgery.

How does snoring affect your relationship with your partner?

Snoring harms the health of not only those who have this pathology. People who snore cause a lot of problems to their spouses and partners.

A loud booming sound prevents those who are nearby from getting a good night's sleep. As a result, the person gets up exhausted, lethargic, and the next night - the same thing.

Fatigue accumulates, and along with it, nervous tension. The slightest reason is enough for a quarrel to break out out of the blue.

Experts in sleep disorders note that snoring has a negative impact on well-being and, as a result, on family relationships. Moreover, this does not depend on how much the spouses love each other.

How to avoid arguments due to snoring

If the problem of snoring has become urgent, it is necessary to take action. It is important to understand how sensitive this issue is and to approach it tactfully.

What is snoring and how to get rid of itPhoto: Depositphotos

The first rule that spouses need to adhere to is not to start morning discussions. At this moment, both may feel sleep-deprived and any careless word will lead to conflict.

You need to realize that a person snores not intentionally - it is a pathology that needs to be fought. Sometimes with the help of a doctor.

Never use your partner's snoring as a reason to sort things out on other issues.

When discussing such a sensitive issue, bring some humor to make it easier for your partner to talk to you about this topic. Otherwise, the person may withdraw and you will not be able to solve the problem constructively.

When people interfere with sleep, it’s sad. But don't elbow your partner in the side when he snores. Quietly ask him to roll over onto his side.

Here are a couple more tips on how to resolve the situation:

1. A person who snores should take all possible steps to stop snoring. And if you need to see a doctor, be sure to do so. This approach demonstrates responsibility towards loved ones.
2. If possible, sleep in separate rooms. This is not the best advice in this situation: your partner may feel rejected and isolated. Therefore, the first solution is preferable.

Summarize

Now you know what snoring is and how to get rid of it. It can be caused by a physiological feature or pathology. Depending on the cause, a method is chosen that helps relieve the symptoms.

A snorer must be aware of his responsibility to his loved ones - if he deprives them of proper rest, this will affect their health and family relationships. Try to get rid of snoring on your own - adjust your lifestyle, use special techniques and exercises to train your throat muscles.

If these methods do not help, seek help from a specialist - get examined. The doctor will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment - therapy or surgery.

If you approach the problem of snoring consciously, you will avoid quarrels in the family. And undesirable consequences for the health of yourself and your loved ones.

Material prepared by: Alisa Guseva Cover photo: Depositphotos

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Source: https://relife.blog/chto-takoye-hrap-i-kak-ot-nego-izbavitsya/

Snore

Snoring is a breathing disorder during sleep, accompanied by vibration of the soft tissues of the larynx and nasopharynx and the production of a low-frequency rattling sound. May indicate the presence of ENT pathology, excess weight or functional disorders.

Snoring is often accompanied by attacks of respiratory arrest (apnea), which leads to oxygen deficiency of vital organs and systems and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Snoring leads to disruption of adequate sleep for the snorer and the people around him.

Snoring is a breathing disorder during sleep, accompanied by vibration of the soft tissues of the larynx and nasopharynx and the production of a low-frequency rattling sound. May indicate the presence of ENT pathology, excess weight or functional disorders.

Snoring is often accompanied by attacks of respiratory arrest (apnea), which leads to oxygen deficiency of vital organs and systems and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Snoring leads to disruption of adequate sleep for the snorer and the people around him.

Every fifth person on Earth snores while sleeping. About 3% of the population suffers from periodic stops in breathing during sleep (sleep apnea).

Due to certain anatomical features of the structure of the respiratory tract, men are more predisposed to snoring. For every woman who constantly snores, there are 10 men.

Every tenth man in the world experiences sleep apnea from time to time. Holding your breath in some cases lasts more than 1 minute.

Snore

In a sleeping person, the muscle tone of the upper respiratory tract decreases. Normally, during inhalation, the pressure in the chest cavity becomes negative and air is “sucked” into the lungs.

An excessive decrease in the tone of the muscles of the larynx and pharynx leads to the fact that the soft tissues of the upper respiratory tract are drawn inward along with the air. The source of sound during snoring is the vibration of the walls of the pharynx, soft palate and root of the tongue.

Apnea occurs when soft tissue closes and blocks the airway during inhalation.

The likelihood of snoring increases with certain diseases and conditions. All causes of snoring and sleep apnea can be divided into two large groups: anatomical and physiological.

Anatomical causes of snoring

The risk of snoring and sleep apnea increases with anatomical narrowing of the upper airways. The airways can become narrowed by a deviated nasal septum, polyps in the nasal cavity, congenital narrowness of the nasal passages and pharynx, enlarged tonsils, adenoids, an elongated uvula, a small, displaced lower jaw, and excess weight.

Functional causes of snoring

Narrowing and decreased muscle tone of the airways can be caused by fatigue, lack of sleep, smoking, drinking alcohol and sleeping pills, and decreased function of the pituitary gland and thyroid gland. The tone of the pharyngeal muscles decreases with age and with the onset of menopause in women.

Snoring, even if it is not complicated by pauses in breathing, can cause multiple micro-awakenings. Episodes of such awakenings are not realized or remembered. Disruption of the normal structure of sleep leads to the fact that the body does not have time to rest during the night. As a result, a person suffering from snoring does not get enough sleep, gets tired quickly, and experiences constant drowsiness.

Snoring that is not accompanied by pauses in breathing does not always disrupt the structure of sleep. Snoring with periodic pauses in breathing in response to a lack of oxygen triggers a cascade of pathological reactions.

Apnea can occur up to 500 times per night and lasts on average 10-20 seconds. Every time breathing stops, the body suffers from a lack of oxygen.

The brain reacts to hypoxia and sends the body a signal to wake up.

Normal sleep consists of several successive phases. With frequent awakenings, the brain does not have time to reach deep stages of sleep - periods of complete muscle relaxation and lower blood pressure.

Constant micro-awakenings activate the sympathetic nervous system. As a result, a person suffering from apnea has increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and sometimes heart rhythm disturbances.

Blockage of the airways during snoring, accompanied by sleep apnea, leads to a sharp decrease in intrathoracic pressure.

The limbs and internal organs suffer from a lack of blood, while the heart is overloaded with excess fluid.

The constant effect of these pathological mechanisms on the human body leads to the development of hypertension, arrhythmias, heart attacks and strokes. Patients with snoring accompanied by apnea often experience problems with potency. They are more likely to get into accidents due to drowsiness and decreased attention.

People who snore are prone to abuse of sleeping pills and alcohol. Patients with snoring find themselves in a kind of vicious circle: snoring disrupts sleep, the patient begins to use sleeping pills, the tone of the muscles of the larynx and pharynx decreases even more, and snoring intensifies.

Patients are advised to normalize their weight and stop using sleeping pills. Typically, snoring occurs when a person sleeps lying on their back.

There are special techniques for developing new reflexes - the habit of sleeping on your stomach or side. To prevent snoring, patients can use special devices (various pacifiers and nasal dilators).

For severe snoring and obstructive apnea, a special sleep mask is used. Medicines for snoring are ineffective.

The choice of surgical treatment tactics depends on the cause of snoring. Correction of the nasal septum (septoplasty), removal of nasal polyps with a laser, and removal of enlarged tonsils (tonsillectomy) are performed. Plastic surgeries are performed on the pharynx and soft palate: uvulotomy and uvulopalatoplasty. Classic surgical techniques, laser surgery and radiosurgery are used.

Source: https://www.KrasotaiMedicina.ru/diseases/zabolevanija_lor/snoring

Snoring at night - causes and home treatments

Snoring is a loud sound that accompanies breathing during sleep. Leads to disruption of night sleep and oxygen starvation of the body. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve a state of healthy sleep. Can lead to constant fatigue, as well as chronic lack of sleep, even after many hours of rest.

Home remedies for snoring are, first of all, recommendations regarding diet and lifestyle. If this is not enough, you should urgently consult a laryngologist who will consider appropriate treatment for snoring.

Snoring - characteristics

Every tenth person snores. Mostly these are men (80%). Women most often begin to snore during menopause .

This noise occurs when the throat narrows during sleep and the walls of the upper respiratory tract become flaccid.

The sound intensity during snoring can reach 90 decibels , which is comparable to the sound of a running lawn mower, the volume of which is approximately 75-93 decibels.

If snoring occurs sporadically, we should not worry. The problem appears, however, when the snoring sounds become louder, followed by a long period of silence, ending with a sudden single snore .

This situation may indicate sleep apnea. These kinds of breaks in breathing can last even one minute, and if repeated several times during the night, they can cause oxygen starvation of the brain, kidneys, heart and liver.

Most often this happens to people who have a deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils, an elongated soft palate, a massive tongue or other anatomical anomalies .

As a rule, people who snore are those who suffer from obesity, arterial hypertension, and people who drank a significant amount of alcohol before going to bed.

It is worth finding out ways to help combat this problem.

Snoring - reasons

The main reason for snoring is that during sleep our muscles become flabby , the back of the throat drops, at the same time putting pressure on the root of the tongue.

As a result of this action, a small gap remains, thanks to which, when falling asleep, we can breathe normally .

In a situation where the airways are blocked, we have problems getting air.

The following factors may influence the occurrence of snoring:

• obesity
• drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes
• The age of the person who snores – the older you are, the greater the risk of breathing problems
• obstructed nasal passages
• incorrect structure of the throat - during sleep, the flaccid parts of the pharynx, soft palate and uvula begin to vibrate, which leads to the appearance of a characteristic sound.
• hypertrophy of the tonsils in children - proper pharmacological treatment or removal of the tonsils leads to the elimination of snoring .

Snoring - diagnosis

In Russia, more than 350 thousand people should begin treatment for sleep apnea, however, the vast majority of sufferers downplay the significance of the problem or are not even aware that they have breathing problems at night.

It is important that partners of people who snore closely monitor their loved ones; It is also worth checking how many times per hour breathing stops occur. If there are more than 10 of them per hour and they last longer than 10 seconds, you should think about diagnosing sleep apnea . This condition may be accompanied by sweating, as well as bluish discoloration due to hypoxia.

Diagnostics involves a visit to the so-called sleep laboratory, where a specialist connects the patient to specialized equipment overnight and performs tests such as:

• EEG – assessment of bioelectrical activity of the brain
• EMG – assessment of muscle tone
• ECG – recording of cardiac activity
• registration of eye movements
• air flow registration
• respiration monitoring
• pulse oximetry and measurements of the amount of oxygen in arterial blood
• recording snoring volume using a microphone
• breathing movements of the chest

Based on these studies, the doctor receives a complete picture of night sleep and, with its help, decides how to treat the patient. Depending on the cause of snoring, appropriate treatment will be implemented.

To exclude sleep disturbance due to stress caused by the study in a hospital setting, the patient can be examined at home under a special video camera and connected to a device that records the degree of oxygen saturation of the blood , snoring sounds, changes in heart rate and body position around the clock. Doctors also learn, in particular, how much air passes through the snorer's respiratory tract and how muscle tone changes.

Snoring - consequences

Snoring is fairly easy to treat, but if left untreated, it can lead to many conditions that interfere with normal functioning.

The main consequences of chronic snoring :

• chronic fatigue
• headache
• problems concentrating
• nervousness
• aggression
• hypertension
• Heart arythmy
• heart attack
• stroke

Moreover, problems with concentration and lack of sleep often lead to accidents and vehicle collisions, and children who snore perform worse on school tests and develop more slowly than their peers.

Snoring - treatment

Before starting treatment, the doctor must determine what exactly is interfering with breathing. For this purpose an apnograph , which allows you to determine the location of narrowing in the airways .

Snoring treatment can be taken if the patient's body mass index is within 40.

Treatment methods:

• surgical treatment of snoring - consists of several plastic surgeries on the pharynx, uvula and palatine arches .
• laser treatment for snoring – used in milder cases, it is a painless and bloodless procedure
• If the cause of snoring is the presence of nasal polyps, enlarged tonsils or a deviated nasal septum, the most common procedure should be to remove or straighten them
• You can also use special orthodontic devices that are installed in the mouth at night. Useful for mild to moderate snoring, as it prevents the tongue from retracting towards the larynx

Snoring - home remedies

Home remedies for snoring are based on simple principles:

• don't drink alcohol before bed
• do not take sleeping pills
• do not take tranquilizers
• try quitting smoking
• It is worth changing your sleeping position ; in this case, it is best to sleep on your side or stomach
• play sports, preferably under the guidance of a trainer
• in case of obesity, you should seek help from a nutritionist
• It’s worth curing sinusitis if it torments you
• Women during menopause should use hormone replacement therapy

Snoring – some important facts

If a small child or infant snores throughout the night , he or she should be examined by a doctor. This could be a symptom of a cold. In this case, snoring should go away after recovery.

At this time, it is worth giving the child (over 3 months) nasal drops to clean it and make breathing easier at night.

He should sleep on his side .

If the cause of snoring is allergic , tests should be performed and antihistamines should be started. Desensitization procedures may also be considered.

In children who often succumb to upper respiratory tract infections , persistent hypertrophy of the tonsils sometimes occurs, so that the flow of air through the nose and throat is obstructed, resulting in the child snoring and breathing frequently through the mouth .

The air that passes only through the throat is not heated and not purified, which can cause subsequent diseases. Prolonged mouth breathing can lead to adverse changes in the bite and shape of the palate.

Tonsil removal surgery may help .

Japanese scientists have invented a special pillow with a microphone , which, in response to the sound of snoring, rises from one side and turns the sleeping person's head to the other side.

A Finnish study found that the risk of death from a heart attack or stroke in people who snore regularly is three and a half times greater than in people who do not snore or who rarely snore. Heart attacks in people who snore occur more often in the morning than at other times of the day.

Source: https://sekretizdorovya.ru/blog/kharakteristiki_nochnogo_khrapa/2019-03-25-745

Causes of snoring during sleep: why it occurs and why it is dangerous, preventive measures

Vibrating sounds during sleep disturb others and disrupt the quality of rest. Before dealing with the problem, you need to undergo an examination and find out the causes of snoring. Depending on the etiology, the specialist prescribes treatment on an individual basis.

Causes

For various reasons, people's muscles in the larynx and soft palate weaken. During sleep, they relax and sag slightly, preventing the unhindered passage of air through the nasopharynx. As a result, a rattling sound is formed during inhalation and exhalation.

Snoring is more than just an annoyance. This is a symptom of disorders in the body. Its presence indicates that a person is not receiving enough oxygen . Nerve endings and internal organs suffer from this.

Regular heavy snoring is a common cause of headaches, chronic fatigue, and shortness of breath. Smoking and drinking alcohol contribute to the appearance of specific sounds. Bad habits reduce muscle tone, lead to intoxication, and deterioration of brain and lung function.

To treat and restore restful sleep, a consultation with a therapist is required. The doctor will examine you and refer you to specialists. Common causes of nighttime snoring are:

• birth defects;
• injury to the nasal septum;
• enlarged tonsils;
• polyps;
• adenoids;
• runny nose;
• excess weight;
• age-related changes.

To understand the mechanism of development of pathology, it is worth considering these reasons in more detail.

Congenital features

Difficulties with breathing during sleep occur due to anatomical abnormalities in the structure of the larynx and nose. The following defects and features prevent the free passage of air:

• Long uvula. This is the part of the soft palate located at the entrance to the pharynx. The elongated shape delays the flow of air during breathing. Weakened palatine muscles worsen the problem, causing loud snoring .
• Macroglossia, or large tongue. An enlarged speech organ causes increased salivation and interferes with free breathing.
• Defects in the structure of the nostrils, wings of the nose and nasal sinuses.

Modern medicine offers many invasive methods to correct abnormalities quickly and without complications.

Deviated nasal septum

This is a common pathology, the appearance of which is influenced by traumatic or physiological causes.

1. Injury to the nose occurs due to fractures and bruises. Damaged areas are deformed and create a barrier to air circulation.
2. Physiological curvatures occur when the bone and cartilage tissue of the septum increases in size unevenly.

Whatever causes the curvature, it causes snoring, chronic runny nose and contributes to infectious processes in the nose.

Enlarged palatine tonsils

Snoring occurs when the tonsils become enlarged. Paired organs - tonsils - perform a protective function, protecting the body from infections. As a result of frequent colds, endocrine disruptions, and vitamin deficiency, their work may be impaired. The problem is signaled by the hypertrophied size of the tonsils.

In some cases, the tonsils grow so large that they touch each other, making breathing difficult. A person experiences constant discomfort and suffers from the following problems:

• heavy snoring;
• cough at night;
• discomfort when swallowing.

To eliminate the pathology, you should contact an otolaryngologist and follow his instructions.

Adenoids

This is an overgrowth of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. Adenoids - small, light-colored growths in the nasopharynx - cause nasal congestion and are diagnosed mainly in childhood.

Provoking factors for enlarged adenoids are:

• genetic predisposition;
• infectious diseases;
• reduced immunity;
• allergy.

Children suffering from adenoids constantly snore, cannot sleep with their mouth closed, often wake up at night and get sick a lot.

Nasal polyps

Polyps are a consequence of hypertrophy of the mucous membrane of the nasal sinuses. They develop gradually and in the initial stages rarely cause inconvenience. Over time, their size increases. A person has difficulty breathing and nasal congestion.

This condition contributes to a decrease in immunity, provokes colds and snoring. If treatment is not started in time, the polyps grow greatly and interfere with nasal breathing not only at night, but also during the day.

Rhinitis

When the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, mucus accumulates in the nose. Rhinitis can be caused by a bacterial infection. As it develops, the nasal sinuses narrow, the nose swells and becomes clogged with secretions. To breathe fully, a person needs to regularly rinse his nose and use medicated drops.

Allergic rhinitis dilates blood vessels, promoting the formation of clear fluid and swelling. This type of runny nose causes snoring and requires adequate treatment.

Overweight

Obesity becomes a prerequisite for many complications, including night snoring and apnea syndrome - short-term cessation of breathing during sleep.

The accumulation of fat on the chin and neck compresses the larynx and interferes with free breathing when lying down. Oxygen deficiency caused by poor air access disrupts metabolic processes. This speeds up the gain of extra pounds and slows down metabolism.

Age-related changes in the nasopharynx

In older people, muscles lose firmness and elasticity. When falling asleep, a person relaxes, the muscle tissue of the nasopharynx begins to sag and vibrate under the pressure of inhaled air.

The problem is aggravated by chronic diseases and medications, such as sedatives and antidepressants..

Consequences of snoring

Snoring is a condition that cannot be ignored. Its presence means the development of pathological processes and leads to serious consequences.

A dangerous complication that appears against the background of extraneous sounds during sleep is apnea. It is characterized by periodic cessation of breathing and decreased ventilation. A person suffers from attacks of suffocation, hypoxia, and the functioning of organs is disrupted. The patient requires long-term treatment in a hospital under the supervision of a specialist.

Doctors never tire of repeating that snoring at night is dangerous and urge you to get rid of it at the initial stage. Among the consequences of the pathology are:

• Chronic fatigue. It manifests itself as excessive drowsiness, loss of strength, and irritability. The main reason is insufficient oxygen flow to the cells.
• Increased blood pressure. The process is associated with progressive hypoxia. Because of it, the functioning of the heart is disrupted. Lack of oxygen contributes to vasoconstriction, which leads to pressure surges, especially in the morning.
• Daytime sleepiness. Regular snoring makes it difficult to sleep well at night . A person often wakes up and tosses around in bed. Lack of rest in the dark forces you to compensate during the day.

Prevention

To prevent rattling sounds and normalize your night's rest, preventive measures are important. Their list includes:

• body weight control;
• balanced diet;
• physical activity during the day;
• quitting smoking and alcohol-containing drinks.

It is necessary to regularly do exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the nasopharynx. Avoid taking medications that reduce muscle tone, purchase an orthopedic pillow and mattress.

It is better to sleep lying on your side rather than on your back. This prevents narrowing of the lumen in the nasopharynx.

If, despite all efforts, it was not possible to avoid snoring, you should not ignore the problem, but begin to eliminate it as soon as possible.

Source: https://faza-sna.com/patologii/osnovnye-prichiny-hrapa