snoring information

Stage of sleep and snoring

In general, sleep consists of two stages - REM (Rapid eye movement) and non-REM. One characteristic of REM sleep is the loosening of the muscles making it more likely to be the stage in which snoring takes place. However, snoring can occur in both of the sleep stages.

The brain actually sends an order to all muscles in the body (except breathing muscles) to unwind and relax. Along with other muscles in the body, the tongue, palate and throat relax and unfortunately may also collapse causing the airway to narrow.

Sleeping position and snoring

Usually, we sleep lying down on our backs. For obvious reasons, gravity pulls down on all the body's organs including the soft and floppy tissues of the pharynx. Therefore, when we sleep on our backs, the palate, tonsils and tongue get pulled backward due to gravity effects and cause our airway to narrow in which the result is snoring. Sleeping on the side of the body may eliminate the gravity effects and stop snoring.

Alcohol, medications and snoring

Alcohol and medication with tranquilizing properties tend to influence the breathing related tissues leading them to enhanced relaxation. When the muscles of the tongue, palate, pharynx and neck get over-relaxed they cause the airway to collapse. This leads to a narrower airway and vibrating tissues which cause snoring.

The problem with snoring

Snoring may be caused by different reasons, many of which could be the sign of a more serious, underlying medical problem. It is important for snorers to get evaluated making sure life threatening conditions such as Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or any other sleeping disorders are not the cause.

Snoring doesn't have to be a medical problem. Snorers who sleep and breathe normally represent a problem only to their bed partner and family. Many snorers report that their bed partners often leave the bedroom and sleep in other rooms in search of a quiet sleeping environment. Therefore, snoring could become a major social problem for the snorer himself due to the implications on his sleeping partner.

The clinical importance of snoring

It is important to determine whether the snoring is caused by an underlying medical problem or an isolated (Primary) condition which is not related to any underlying medical condition.

The importance of the matter is that primary snoring isn't related with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), insomnia, upper airways obstructions or any other sleeping disorder. OSA is a life threatening condition which is associated with cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes due to hypertension among those who suffer from OSA.

The evaluation of snoring

A thorough evaluation of a snoring problem begins with talking to a snorer's bed partner and/or family members as well as gathering a complete history and performing a physical examination. A complete history has to include sleep patterns describing sleep related symptoms during day and night time.

A physical examination must include BMI (Body Mass Index) assessment and a throat, neck and nasal area visual survey determining how narrow the patient's airways are.

Snoring as a medical problem

Evidence of an underlying medical problem could be witnessed by a snorer's bed partner. Signs such as witnessed apnea, gasping, periodic limb movement and restless leg syndrome could indicate the presence of a serious problem.

Snorers also could experience symptoms that indicate the presence of a serious problem among them: irritability, daytime sleepiness, concentration issues, difficulty in staying awake during the day and a general feeling of insufficient sleep.

If, for any reason, a problem is suspected there are two types of sleep studies one could conduct:

Home sleep study
Polysomnography (Full sleep study)

By conducting a home sleep study one can measure some basic parameters which include a pulse oximetry and a record of apnea, snoring a movement. A home sleep study can either determine that there is no sleeping problem present or suggest there is one.

A full sleep study (Polysomnography) is performed in a clinic. This study should be conducted if a home sleep study suggests a sleeping problem is present.

By utilizing these tests one can establish whether his snoring problem is primary or not. In case the snoring is a primary problem, potential treatments should be explored.

tests and research
tests and research about snores