“Gruuuul”. We’ve all heard it before. That dreaded gnarl that lulls us from our sweet slumber. The snore! And who? You ask are the culprits of this raid on our rest? Well… a lot of people. Young, old, guy, girl… they all snore; as a matter of fact, I bet we all know at least one person that snores in their sleep. Irritating, I know. But as insignificant as a little snoring may seem, it may actually be an indicator of many, more serious health risks… In addition to being annoying. Check it out.

What is Snoring?

That “soothing sound” called snoring is a result of the air passage being blocked off. As air struggles to pass through, the soft palate (located to the back roof of your mouth) and uvula vibrate. Airway obstruction can be attributed to fat surrounding and collapsing the passage or by the weakening of the musculature of the throat itself. This is a typical indication and reason for snoring that occurs with obese, overweight, and old people. Snoring may also be due to something clogging the nasal passage. This is typical when a person is sick and has a stuffy nose or is congested. A simple remedy for this would be to blow your nose.

So what does this mean?

Well obviously, if your air passage is constricted, it’s not good. Your oxygen intake is reduced and in severe cases, this can lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person goes through stints of not respiring, meaning a person stops breathing in their sleep. In the case of snoring, this would be considered obstructive sleep apnea or apnea due to physical stress on the airway. People who snore may suffer from drowsiness, fatigue and sleep deprivation. And in some places, ridicule from your friends.

Treatment

Now, if you or someone you know is dealing with this affliction, fear not! There is hope. The first thing you can do to correct the problem (after using some Kleenex) is lose weight. Getting in shape will help reduce the amount of fat there is to pressure the air passage. Sleeping upright is also a good idea. And sorry to say, but smoking and drinking aren’t too helpful. I know it’s been a hard day, but the last thing you want to do is get those muscles extra relaxed, you feel me? Some dental offices also provide some dental devices to assist with easing the snoring that occurs. In extreme cases, surgery is also an option. But beware! Surgery is no guarantee! In fact, most patients are worse off after the surgery.

Treatment device for sleep apnea

Dental anti-snoring device

Overall, snoring can be preventative in some cases. If you’re a smoker, not in shape, or are under the weather, simple activities including losing weight, blowing your nose, and cutting back on the cigarettes can truly make a difference.

In the event you or a loved one are experiencing severe or mild cases of snoring, be sure to consult with a physician or health care provider regarding any concerns.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 1:07 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.