45% of normal adults snore at least occasionally and 25% are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight people and usually worsens with age. Snoring may be an indication of obstructed breathing and should not be taken lightly. An otolaryngologist can help you to determine where the anatomic source of your snoring may be and offer solutions for this noisy and often embarrassing behavior.
Snoring occurs when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the collapsible part of the airway where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Noise is made when these structures strike each other and vibrate during breathing.
In children, snoring may be a sign of problems with the tonsils and adenoids. A chronically snoring child should be examined by an otolaryngologist.
Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat.
Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue: Children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Overweight people have excess soft tissue in the neck that can lead to airway narrowing.
Long soft palate and/or uvula.
Obstructed nasal airways: A stuffy or blocked nose requires extra effort to pull air through it. This creates an exaggerated vacuum in the throat that pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat, resulting in snoring. Deformities of the nose or nasal septum, such as a deviated septum, can cause such an obstruction.
Snoring disturbs sleep patterns and deprives the snorer of adequate rest. It may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can lead to serious, long-term health problems. OSA is characterized by multiple episodes of breathing pauses greater than 10 seconds at a time. This results in lower amounts of oxygen in the blood which causes the heart to work harder. It also causes disruption of the natural sleep cycle which makes people feel poorly rested despite adequate time in bed. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of developing heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other medical problems.
Heavy snorers should be evaluated to ensure that sleep apnea is not a problem. An examination can reveal if the snoring is caused by nasal allergy, infection, nasal obstruction or enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids. A sleep study may be ordered to determine if the snoring is from sleep apnea.
A custom-fit oral appliance, which repositions the lower jaw forward, may also be considered for certain patients with snoring/ OSA.