Snoring is a word familiar to many. According to statistics, about 20% of the world's population have this habit in a dream. Why snoring appears has long remained a mystery. In this article we will talk in more detail about this phenomenon, why it occurs, whether there are effective ways to deal with it.
Causes
To deal with this specific sound accompanying sleep, it is important to understand why snoring occurs. This phenomenon occurs when a stream of air passes through a narrowed airway. In this case, sections of the pharynx are in contact with each other. Under the influence of air flow, they begin to vibrate.
Most often, polyps in the nose, curvature of the nasal septum, the presence of excess weight in the person, and enlargement of the tonsils become the causes of snoring.
There are also innate features that can lead to snoring. This is an elongated palatine tongue, narrow nasal passages, various malocclusion. Why snoring? Among the reasons, experts also highlight a decrease in thyroid function, which affects the tone of the muscles of the pharynx. Provoking factors can be fatigue, regular lack of sleep, taking sleeping pills, smoking, excessive drinking. All these factors help to answer why snoring appears in men.
Of great importance are age-related changes. In the elderly, the muscles of the larynx and tongue are significantly weakened. This is the reason why snoring appears with age.
The dangers
This is a phenomenon with which many people live throughout their lives. For most of us, snoring does not pose any health threat. However, there are situations in which one should be wary of such a condition.
For example, if snoring occurs during a cold, there is no need to worry. It will pass as soon as a person recovers.
Snoring often exhausts people, because they feel overwhelmed during the day. This is due to the fact that during a loud snoring a person unknowingly wakes up himself. For this reason, the brain cannot fully rest during the night. As a result, human performance is significantly reduced.
There are other dangers and troubles that this condition can lead to. For example, if a person does not have a separate bedroom, his loved ones at night will constantly experience severe discomfort. In some cases, this can lead to serious conflicts.
Apnea
The most dangerous consequence that snoring can cause is apnea. This is what is called breath holding in a dream. During the night, this condition can be observed several times. The consequence of this is a decrease in blood oxygen saturation.
Apnea usually occurs in snoring people who are additionally overweight, as well as a short and thick neck. Men are more likely to have such attacks. With age, the likelihood of an ailment increases. Smokers and hypertensive patients are at risk.
During apnea, the walls of the respiratory tract for various reasons subside, as a result of which the access of air to the lungs ceases. A protective reaction follows, due to which the balance of the content of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood is disturbed. Stimulation of the respiratory center occurs, the person again takes a breath. At this moment, alarms are sent to the brain that make the sleeping person wake up for a very short time. He himself may not even be aware of this, but he will wake up dozens of times in one night.
The result is a feeling of weakness, high blood pressure. Perhaps the most dangerous consequences of apnea are heart attacks and night strokes. There is a possibility of even sudden death in a dream. If a person is diagnosed with apnea, in no case should you be neglected. It is imperative to begin effective treatment.
Snore Diagnosis
If this condition occurs, it is important to find out why snoring appears. People whom he is concerned should visit the otolaryngologist. The doctor will be able to establish the anatomical features of the structure of the respiratory tract. If it turns out that the changes are correctable, appropriate treatment will be prescribed. It will also help to find the answer why there is snoring, consultation of the endocrinologist and therapist.
It is important to establish whether complications that can often accompany these conditions appear, for example, respiratory arrest in a dream. To do this, a modern study of night sleep, called polysomnography, is carried out. This method will help you find out why a person has snoring. During this procedure, numerous devices and sensors are attached to the body that record respiratory movements, ECG, brain “waves”, and other important parameters. They are recorded throughout the night. The condition of the patient is monitored by specialists. Polysomnography data helps to find out why snoring appears in a dream, to prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Sleep study
An otolaryngologist can prescribe surgery on the airways. In this situation, the patient will additionally need a sleep study. It will answer the question of whether such an operation would harm. Also, a similar diagnosis is carried out after surgery to find out whether it was possible to achieve a positive result. In such a situation, as a rule, they use an abbreviated version of polysomnography, limited only to cardiorespiratory monitoring of sleep.
This study no longer requires a large number of sensors, it is much cheaper and easier to carry. His main task is to assess how much the patient’s breathing has improved, whether his stops are present. Such a study will not only tell you why snoring appears, but also help determine the tactics of complex therapy.
Female snoring
We should also dwell on the causes of snoring in the fair sex. As a rule, he appears later than male. Mostly its occurrence is associated with hormonal changes in the body during menopause. This is the main factor why women get snoring.
The appearance of this problem in a young girl is minimal. If this still happened, then the cause is most likely the disease. Here is a list of ailments that lead to snoring:
- Incorrect work of the pituitary gland.
- Violation of the functions of the endocrine system.
- The appearance of polyps in the nose.
- Chronic sinusitis, rhinitis or another disease of this type.
- Airway infection accompanied by edema.
- Tonsil enlargement, provoked by inflammation.
- Deformation of the nasal septum.
- Pathology of the structure of the respiratory tract.
- Violation of the bite or structure of the jaw.
- A long palatine tongue.
- Age-related changes in nasopharyngeal tissues.
- Obesity.
- Injuries that caused damage to the nervous system.
That's why women have snoring. In some cases, the cause may be an improperly selected sleeping position. True, such situations are rare. In this case, enough change of position to completely get rid of the problem. It is important that the condition does not develop into a chronic one and does not recur.
During pregnancy
Quite often, expectant mothers face the problem of snoring. This is an alarming symptom that cannot be ignored. There are four main reasons why snoring appeared during pregnancy.
- Weight gain. When the baby grows, the mother gains extra pounds with it. If a woman does not eat properly during pregnancy, for example, she overeats regularly, weight gain can be very significant. It’s no secret that it’s difficult for full people in a prone position to breathe - overweight crushes and trachea, throat and lungs.
- Edema during pregnancy appears due to gestosis. This is a signal that problems have appeared in the work of the kidneys and the cardiovascular system. Also, swelling provokes the consumption of a large number of salty foods, an unbalanced diet. As a result, the weight of the pregnant woman increases significantly, she begins to experience pressure on the respiratory system.
- Snoring can be caused by physiological causes. This is hypertrophy of the tonsils or chronic diseases of the nasopharynx. As a rule, in this situation, snoring was earlier, and during pregnancy intensified.
- Finally, the cause may be rhinitis in pregnant women. Itching, nasal congestion, sneezing - all these are symptoms that are familiar to many young mothers. The cause of rhinitis in this situation is hormonal changes in the female body, due to swelling of the mucous membranes, worsening of the state of the vessels. Breathing through the nose becomes difficult. Because of this, snoring appears.
How to fight
To get rid of this pathological condition, there are quite a few ways. Conservative treatment is often prescribed. This may be drug therapy, which is aimed at combating relevant diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Certain drugs will help women level their hormones.
It does not hurt the washing of the nose with a solution based on salt water.
Also, conservative therapy is carried out using various devices that help the patient to take the correct position during sleep. It can be jaw straps, mouthpieces, mouth guards and much more.
Surgical intervention
In some situations, you have to resort to minimally invasive surgery. It is required with a too long palatine tongue, the appearance of polyps, inflammation of the adenoids.
In such cases, laser or radio wave uvulopalatoplasty is used. Such operations are not performed if apnea is diagnosed, since during healing, the swollen mucous membrane can lead to blockage of air entering the respiratory tract.
CPAP therapy
This is a common modern method, which is based on creating positive airway pressure. It is created using a special device.
Air is injected into the patient's airway under a certain pressure. Air is blown while a person is sleeping to avoid apnea.
This device is a compact device that the patient is able to wear on his own, but before using it requires tuning by a professional doctor.
Baby snoring
If the child has snoring, then most likely the reason is an increase and inflammation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. This disease is called adenoiditis.
Some factors, such as chronic or acute runny nose, anatomical features of the structure of the nasopharynx, disturbances in the structure of the lower jaw, or obesity, can also have an effect.
Another reason for child snoring is an uncomfortable pose in a stroller or car seat. Depending on the provoking factor, appropriate treatment is required.
Advice
Sometimes you can get rid of snoring by changing habits or the wrong way of life. It will decrease if you put a second pillow under your head. Also good results are breathing exercises. Even the usual lowing with an exhale through the nose effectively helps relieve swelling of the mucous membranes.
Some are advised to massage the larynx. With it, the muscles are strengthened. Gently massage the muscles located under the lower jaw, alternately unclenching and squeezing them. When your mouth is open, move your tongue left and right.
Strengthening the muscles of the throat will help singing. The performance for half an hour of your favorite compositions will be not only pleasant, but also beneficial for the general health of a person, his psychological state.