Snoring

It’s estimated that around 20 per cent of the population snores at night. Snoring isn’t physically harmful to the person who snores, but it is highly irritating to anyone kept awake by the noise. More men snore than women, with around one quarter of males prone to snoring.

Snoring may also be a symptom of significant sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnoea.

During sleep, the muscles of the soft palate and uvula (the structures found in the back of the throat) tend to relax and vibrate when the person breathes. This happens both when breathing through the nose or the open mouth.

This relaxed tissue vibrates as air moves back and forth across it, making the characteristic noise. Snoring isn’t harmful and can be left untreated with no ill effects, although sometimes a person can snore so loudly that they constantly wake themselves during the night and this can lead to long-term sleep deprivation and fatigue.

Snoring has also been known to put strain on a marriage, since the spouse is regularly denied a good night’s sleep and may move to another room.

In some cases, snoring is part of obstructive sleep apnoea. This occurs when the walls of the throat come together during sleep and block the airway between the voice box and the back of the nose.

After a few seconds, the sleeper makes a strong breathing effort and restarts breathing.

A person with this disorder might wake up hundreds of times every night.

Treatments are available

Snoring is more likely when you have a cold, sinusitis or some other reason for a stuffy nose. Snoring is more common when you sleep on your back. Habitual night-time snorers, however, tend to share certain characteristics.

The typical snorer is: May be told that snoring is worse with alcohol and with a cold. Losing weight and cutting back on alcohol tends to reduce the severity of snoring, if not cure it altogether.

Other tips include: Avoid sleeping tablets

Sleep on your side rather than your back

Treat nasal congestion

Make sure the air in the bedroom is neither too dry nor too humid.

Avoid alcohol in the hours before bedtime

A mandibular advancement splint (MAS) is a dental therapy device similar to a mouth guard, which if fitted properly, can reduce snoring. Other remedies, such as chin straps, anti-snoring pillows or ‘drops’ under the tongue, are not useful. Surgery might be considered in extreme cases of snoring.

However, there is always a chance that surgery might only work for a short time or not at all.

Surgery is not a permanent cure

The techniques to choose from include:

• – the tonsils are taken out
• the soft palate reshaped. This operation is performed under anaesthetic
• requires a hospital stay. – a laser beam is used to wound the palate

When the tissue heals, it is usually stiffer because of scarring.

The patient can go home straight after treatment

This method is generally not successful and so is discouraged by experts. – is piecemeal burning of the soft palate.

This method is also now discouraged by experts

All techniques are painful for at least 10 days. About snoring Sleep deprivation and fatigue Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea The typical snorer Male Aged between 30 and 65 years Overweight May have high blood pressure Simple remedies for snoring Oral appliance or mandibular advancement splint Surgery is not a permanent cure Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) Laser uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (laser treatment) Somnoplasty Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Sleep disorder clinic.

Key Points

• Snoring may also be a symptom of significant sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnoea
• Treatments are available
• Snoring is more common when you sleep on your back
• When the tissue heals, it is usually stiffer because of scarring
• patient can go home straight after treatment