Snoring or snoring is a condition when a person makes harsh sounds while sleeping. This condition is the result of obstructed or narrowed airways.
Snoring can happen to anyone, and is usually nothing to worry about. However, this condition can also be a sign of other health problems, including: sleep apnea. It is advisable to see a doctor if your snoring is frequent and accompanied by:
- Waking up from choking or gasping for air.
- Head or throat hurts every time you wake up.
- Feeling very sleepy during the day, making it difficult to concentrate.
- High blood pressure.
- Nervous.
- There is pain in the chest.
Causes of Snoring
Snoring is the result of obstructed or narrowed airways. This narrowing will cause vibrations in the respiratory tract when breathing, which then causes a snoring sound. The more blocked the airway, the louder the snoring.
Obstruction of the respiratory tract can be caused by weakening of the throat muscles, generally due to aging. In addition, it can also be caused by a medical condition, such as:
- Sleep apnea.
- Nasal or airway obstruction, due to allergies or sinusitis.
- Crooked nose.
- Swollen tonsils or adenoids.
- Mumps.
- Facial deformities.
- Overweight. People who are overweight tend to have thick throat tissue, which blocks the airways.
The habit of consuming alcohol or sleeping pills can also cause snoring, because it makes the muscles in the tongue and throat become weak.
Snoring Diagnosis
Generally, a person does not realize that he is snoring, until he is told by a partner who sleeps in the same bed or a family who shares the same house with him. Snoring can be a sign of a health problem, especially if it is accompanied by:
- Difficulty getting up in the morning.
- Feeling sleep deprived.
- Sleepy during the day.
- Fall asleep while on the move, for example during a meeting or even while driving.
Stopped breathing, gasping for air, or jerking of the legs during sleep can also be signs of a health problem.
If you feel the above complaints, you should consult a doctor, and don't forget to invite people who often hear you snoring so that the doctor can get more detailed information.
In the diagnosis process, the first step taken by the doctor is to ask in detail the symptoms and diseases that the patient has suffered before. The doctor will also ask questions related to sleep patterns, bed cleanliness, how many times the patient wakes up at night, drowsiness that appears during the day, to the length of time for naps.
Then the doctor will measure the patient's body mass index to see if the patient's weight is ideal. The doctor will also run a test, called a polysomnography, to see if snoring is interfering with the patient's quality of sleep and is a sign of a health problem.
In a polysomnography examination, the doctor will observe the patient's condition while sleeping. Special sensors will be attached to the patient's body, to record brain waves, heart rate, and eye movement of the patient during sleep, for later analysis.
After that, the doctor can also perform a scanning examination with X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. This test will display the condition of the patient's respiratory tract, so the doctor can see what is causing the patient to snore.
Snoring Treatment
How to get rid of snoring will be adjusted to the cause. For example, if snoring or snoring is caused by allergies, then the treatment is with anti-allergic drugs.
The first step that doctors generally recommend to treat snoring is to change your lifestyle. There are several things that need to be done, namely:
- Reducing weight.
- Avoid alcohol consumption, especially at bedtime.
- Quit smoking.
- Get enough sleep.
- Get used to not eating heavy food when going to bed.
- Sleep on your side.
Further treatment aims to address the cause of snoring, both with surgical and non-surgical methods.
Non-surgical methods are performed when snoring is caused by narrowing of the airways during sleep (sleep apnea), while the surgical method is performed if the cause is an abnormality in the respiratory tract, such as a crooked nasal bone, tonsillitis, or enlarged adenoids.
Some non-surgical treatments, namely:
- Machine use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
The mask from the CPAP machine will be placed over the patient's mouth and nose before going to bed. This machine functions to circulate air which can keep the respiratory tract open, so that the patient can breathe better while sleeping.
- Administration of drops or spray nose
These drugs are given to treat inflammation caused by allergies.
- Installation of special tools in the mouth
Performed on the advice and supervision of a dentist. This tool serves to hold the jaw, tongue, and lower mouth forward, so that the respiratory tract remains open.
As for the treatment of snoring with surgery, patients can ask the doctor first about the benefits and risks. The doctor will also explain what things need to be prepared before the operation.
There are several types of surgery to treat the cause of snoring, including:
- Tonsillectomy, performed when snoring is caused by a disturbance in the tonsils (tonsils). This operation aims to cut and remove the tonsils.
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP), to tighten the throat and palate. This procedure is used to treat sleep apnea.
- Laser-assisted uvula palatoplasty(LAUP), namely the action with a laser beam to correct the blockage of the respiratory tract.
- somnoplasty, to shrink excess tissue on the tongue or palate, using radio wave energy.
Snoring Prevention
There are several ways that can be done to prevent and reduce snoring, namely:
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Side sleeping.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated.
- Do not consume alcohol, especially before bed.
- Avoid cigarette smoke.
- Get enough sleep.
Tape or a special nasal block that serves to facilitate breathing can also be used to reduce the risk of snoring. However, first consult how to use and the risks of this tool, to the doctor.
Complications of Snoring
Snoring or snoring often annoys other people. Although common, snoring can have serious consequences, especially if caused by: sleep apnea.
Some of the complications include:
- Increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
- Major depression that triggers mental disorders.
- Decreased sexual satisfaction.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Often angry and frustrated.
Snoring that reduces sleep quality can also make a person sleepy during activities. This drowsiness will increase the risk of accidents, both at work and driving.