Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Cause and Effect

A good and deep sleep is everyone’s desire each night. You prepare so much for it: clean crisp sheets, soft pillows, cozy room temperature, silky nightgowns and absolutely dark room. But when you are about to fall into that dreamy state, someone starts to disturb your night’s peace with a roaring sound! Someone is snoring! You may need a snore guard to help you sleep.

Snoring produces hoarse sound during sleep, signifying the blockage of airways, the nose, throat and the mouth. When air passes through the airway tissues, it causes vibration and produces sound. The more constricted the airways, the louder you produce the sound. One study showed that one out of ten Australians suffer from this sleeping disorder.

Sleep apnea is the sleeping disorder which causes snoring. Sleep apnea causes your breathing to slow down or stop for a few seconds during your sleep. It is a serious sleeping disorder which needs immediate attention.

Knowing the problem is the first step to solve the problem. You need to seek medical help because the cause of breathing disruption during sleep needs to be determined. Here are some possible reasons for this disorder:

1.Weight

Fat deposits around your airways will limit or obstruct proper breathing. This is because excess fat build up around the neck causes the airway to constrict as you lie down.

2.Alcohol

Alcohol causes the muscles at the back of the throat to relax. When muscles relax, the airway narrows down and closes as you breathe. This limits the oxygen that goes into your blood. Your difficulty to breath will be sensed by the brain and will cause you to be awakened to catch a breath. Sometimes, it will cause you to gasp for breath during sleep without waking you up, or you wake up hearing yourself snore. This phenomenon happens even to people who have not taken alcohol, but more so for people who take alcohol.

3.Mouth Anatomy

A narrow airway is brought about by a narrow throat, a low thick palate, or large tonsils.

4.Insufficient sleep

Sleep apnea causes a person not to have a restful sleep through the night that results in drowsiness during the day. The longer this condition is left untreated, the more you will suffer from the numerous side effects of insufficient sleep such as mood changes, memory and concentration issues, weight gain, weak immunity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and possible accidents.

5.Nasal problem

Sinusitis and other nasal congestion problems block the airways because of mucus formation, which consequently results in less air intake during sleep.

6.Sleeping position

Sleeping on your back narrows the throat airway due to the natural pull of gravity. It is advised for snorers to sleep on their side. Side sleeping is one of the easiest ways to reduce snoring. However, there is a tendency for people to revert to the back sleeping position. A snore guard is one of the quick solutions recommended to clear airways during sleep.

7.Gender

Males are known to be afflicted by sleep apnea more than women. However, overweight women tend to suffer from this disorder and at post menopause stage.

Conclusion 

It is best to consult a doctor to determine the underlying factor for your sleep apnea. Obstructed breathing during sleep does not just give you poor sleeping quality but can cause serious medical conditions if left untreated. Snoring does not cause you sleepless nights, but your husband or wife as well. Get treated and improve your overall quality of life.