Snoring

Snoring, a very common occurrence, affects some 100 million Americans, mostly older adults. Why so many snore is unknown, but the source of the noise is clear. When these people sleep, their throat muscles relax, and as air passes over the uvula (the pendant of flesh that hangs down at the back of the mouth), it causes vibrations similar to those produced when someone plays a woodwind instrument. Instead of musical tones, however, snoring creates harsh, rasping noises. These sounds are more disturbing to sleeping partners than to the snorers themselves, who are usually unaware of the problem until someone complains of the noise.

Males who snore greatly outnumber women, and the likelihood that a person of either sex will snore increases with age. Among people in their thirties, about 5 percent of women and 20 percent of men have the problem, compared with 40 percent of women and 60 percent of men at age 60.

Snoring can occur at any stage of sleep, but it seems to be most pronounced during the REM, or dreaming stages. Sleeping on one's back often contributes to the problem, and having the mouth open might also be a factor. However, some people snore no matter what sleeping position they assume and whether their mouth is open or closed. The use of alcohol, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines and other medications that relax the muscles of the throat and dry the mucous membranes can promote snoring. Smoking can have a similar effect.

Certain physical characteristics promote snoring. People who are markedly overweight are three times more likely to snore than those who are thin. Blockage of nasal passages accounts for some cases of snoring, especially in children with overgrown adenoids and adults who have a deviated septum.

Diagnostic Studies and Procedures

A person who consults a doctor because snoring is interfering with sleep (or threatening to destroy a relationship) will be given a physical examination to look for possible airway obstructions in the nose,

Throat, and palate. If no physical abnormality is found, the physician will investigate other possible causes, including the use of medications and alcohol.

Spending a night in a diagnostic sleep laboratory for observation may be recommended, especially if sleep apnea is suspected. This potentially dangerous condition is marked by loud snoring and fitful sleep, interrupted by brief periods during which the person stops breathing altogether.

Medical Treatments

There are no medical treatments for snoring itself, but a doctor may advise self-help strategies or seek ways to eliminate the underlying cause. For example, if the use of certain medications is contributing to the problem, a physician may suggest alternative drugs. Taking a decongestant before going to bed may help if nasal congestion is causing snoring.

Some patients are helped by wearing a mouth guard, a device that fits inside the mouth to hold the upper and lower teeth together while sleeping. Ask your dentist about using such a device and where to have one made.

Surgery may be suggested for overgrown adenoids or a deviated septum, especially if the abnormality is linked to other problems such as breathing abnormalities or an increased number of sinus infections. A surgical procedure in which a laser is used to remove or reshape the uvula and nearby structures may be recommended. However, this operation does not always solve the underlying problem, and experts advise seeking a second or even a third opinion before undergoing it.

Alternative Therapies

These are directed to remedying possible underlying causes. If you are overweight, consult a nutritionist for help in working out a sensible weight-loss program that emphasizes adopting new eating habits and increasing exercise. If alcohol abuse is the underlying problem, participating in a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous may bring about a desired change in lifestyle habits.

Self-Treatment

The problem of snoring is frequently solved through the process of trial and error. For example:

• If you snore mainly on your back, make every effort to sleep on your side or stomach. Some people find it helpful to sew a pocket on the back of pajamas and insert a tennis ball into it to discourage rolling over while sleeping.
• To make breathing easier, try elevating your head by putting a bolster under the mattress or a brick or piece of two-by-four lumber under each leg at the head of the bed.
• Make sure that your bedroom is as free of dust and other allergens as possible. A cool-mist humidifier will keep the air moist and prevent the drying of nasal passages. Washing your nasal passages with a saline solution before going to bed will also ease any nasal congestion.
• Instead of taking a sleeping pill or an alcoholic nightcap to help you fall asleep, have a glass of warm milk and honey before going to bed.

If all else fails, the person being disturbed by the noise might consider wearing earplugs at night.

Other Causes of Snoring

Hay fever and other allergies that affect the nasal passages may contribute to a snoring problem.