Snoring

Snoring is a vibrating sound produced during sleep when the muscles in the throat and mouth relax, causing the airway to narrow. Although snoring does not usually affect the person who snores, the noise can disrupt the sleep quality of those around them. However, severe snoring may be a precursor to obstructive sleep apnoea.

What Causes Snoring?

During sleep, the soft tissues of the upper airway, such as the tongue, throat and soft palate, are in a relaxed state, narrowing the space through which air flows. When air cannot pass freely through the airway, it vibrates against the soft tissues, producing the sound of snoring.

Snoring is most common in men and in people aged 40 to 60. The following factors can cause the soft tissues of the upper airway to become more relaxed, increasing the likelihood of snoring:

Physical Factors

Being overweight or having excess body fat
Nasal congestion, e.g. allergic rhinitis or the common cold
Enlarged tonsils (common in children)

Sleep Habits

Sleeping on your back (supine sleeping position)
Taking sleeping tablets

Excessive Alcohol and Tobacco Use

Drinking too much alcohol before bedtime
Smoking, which can cause swelling and irritation of the throat and airways

Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

Snoring is simply a physical phenomenon produced by the audible vibration of breathing. It has minimal physiological impact on the person who snores and produces no other associated symptoms.

However, snoring is also one of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) that usually include the following:

Breathing stops for approximately 5 to 10 seconds during sleep
Waking suddenly due to difficulty breathing and gasping for air
Poor sleep quality
Daytime sleepiness, fatigue and difficulty concentrating

As stated, snoring may be a benign manifestation of physical factors such as being overweight or nasal passage congestion but can be a symptom of more serious underlying condition. If your snoring is severe and you experience any of the symptoms above, you should inform your doctor and undergo an examination to determine whether you have obstructive sleep apnoea.

Treatment of Snoring

Unless snoring is caused by obstructive sleep apnoea or a structural abnormality, surgical correction is not required. The causes of snoring vary from person to person, so it is difficult to identify a single most effective remedy. However, the NHS recommends the following approaches depending on the type of snoring:

Cause	Recommended Approach
Tongue blocking the throat	Use a mandibular advancement device (similar to a dental guard) to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway
Difficulty keeping the mouth closed	Use lip tape or an anti-snoring headband to encourage nasal breathing
Blocked nasal passage	Use nasal strips, a CPAP machine, or nasal spray to moisturise the airway
Sleeping on the back	Use a special pillow, or attach a tennis ball to the back of your pyjamas to encourage sleeping on your side

Preventing Snoring

In everyday life, maintaining good habits can help prevent or improve snoring:

Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption before bedtime
Sleep on your side rather than your back
Avoid taking sleeping pills
Quit smoking and avoid alcohol consumption

OT&P Healthcare’s Advice

If snoring frequently causes you to stop breathing, wake up gasping for air, or affects your family's sleep or relationships, we recommend booking an appointment with an ENT specialist as soon as possible to investigate the cause of your snoring and discuss treatment options.

References

Patient. (April 2021). Snoring. Retrieved from

https://patient.info/mental-health/insomnia-poor-sleep/snoring
National Health Service. (September 2020). Snoring. Retrieved from

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/snoring/
Northern Care Alliance. (n.d.). Snoring. Retrieved from

https://www.pat.nhs.uk/downloads/New%20NCA%20Leaflets/Respiratory/349%20-%20Snoring.pdf