11 Responses to “What Causes Snoring? And Is There A Cure For It?”

1. jayarama says:

   January 5, 2010 at 8:35 am

   42
2. SHANE P says:

   January 5, 2010 at 8:56 am

   Snoring is caused by the inability of air to pass through the nasal passages. There isn’t a cure, but there is a solution: rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty is a surgery where your nasal passages are widened.
3. Jon says:

   January 5, 2010 at 9:37 am

   Snoring is made by a relaxing of the jaw which causes a partially blocked airway. This partial blockage makes a resonating sound we all hear at night. Sometimes a person’s adenoids can contribute if they’re significantly swollen.
4. Obi-wan Kenobi says:

   January 5, 2010 at 9:53 am

   What Causes Snoring?
   The noisy sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the collapsible part of the airway where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Snoring occurs when these structures strike each other and vibrate during breathing.
   People who snore may suffer from:
   Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat. When muscles are too relaxed, either from alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness, the tongue falls backwards into the airway or the throat muscles draw in from the sides into the airway. This can also happen during deep sleep.
   Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue. Children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Overweight people have bulky neck tissue, too. Cysts or tumors can also cause bulk, but they are rare.
   Long soft palate and/or uvula. A long palate narrows the opening from the nose into the throat. As it dangles, it acts as a noisy flutter valve during relaxed breathing. A long uvula makes matters even worse.
   Obstructed nasal airways. A stuffy or blocked nose requires extra effort to pull air through it. This makes an exaggerated vacuum in the throat, and pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat, and snoring results. So, snoring often occurs only during the hay fever season or with a cold or sinus infection.
   Also, deformities of the nose or nasal septum, such as a deviated septum (a deformity of the wall that separates one nostril from the other) can cause such an obstruction.
   Is Snoring Serious?
   Socially, yes! It can be, when it makes the snorer an object of ridicule and causes others sleepless nights and resentfulness.
   Medically, yes! It disturbs sleeping patterns and deprives the snorer of appropriate rest. When snoring is severe, it can cause serious, long-term health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea.
   Obstructive Sleep Apnea
   When loud snoring is interrupted by frequent episodes of really obstructed breathing, it is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Serious episodes last more than ten seconds each and occur more than seven times per hour. Apnea patients may experience 30 to 300 such events per night. These episodes can reduce blood oxygen levels, causing the heart to pump harder.
   The immediate effect of sleep apnea is that the snorer must sleep lightly and keep his muscles tense in order to keep airflow to the lungs. Because the snorer does not get a excellent rest, he may be sleepy during the day, which impairs job performance and makes him a hazardous driver or equipment operator. After many years with this disorder, elevated blood pressure and heart enlargement may occur.
   Can Heavy Snoring be Cured?
   Heavy snorers, those who snore in any position or are disruptive to the family, should seek medical advice to ensure that sleep apnea is not a problem. An otolaryngologist will provide a thorough examination of the nose, mouth, throat, palate, and neck. A sleep study in a laboratory environment may be necessary to determine how serious the snoring is and what effects it has on the snorer’s health.
   Snoring Treatment
   Treatment depends on the diagnosis. An examination will reveal if the snoring is caused by nasal allergy, infection, deformity, or tonsils and adenoids.
   Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea may respond to various treatments now offered by many otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons:
   Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery for treating obstructive sleep apnea. It tightens flabby tissues in the throat and palate, and expands air passages.
   Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) refers to procedures and techniques that treat snoring and some of them also are used to treat various severities of obstructive sleep apnea. Different types of TAP include bipolar cautery, laser, and radiofrequency. Laser Helped Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) treats snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea by removing the obstruction in the airway. A laser is used to vaporize the uvula and a specified part of the palate in a series of small procedures in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia. Radiofrequency ablation—some with temperature control approved by the FDA—utilizes a needle electrode to emit energy to shrink excess tissue to the upper airway including the palate and uvula (for snoring), base of the tongue (for obstructive sleep apnea), and nasal turbinates (for chronic nasal obstruction).
   Genioglossus and hyod advancement is a surgical procedure for the treatment of sleep apnea. It prevents collapse of the lower throat and pulls the tongue muscles forward, thereby opening the obstructed airway.
   If surgery is too risky or unwanted, the patient may sleep every night with a nasal mask that delivers air pressure into the throat; this is called continuous positive airway pressure or “CPAP”.
   A chronically snoring child should be examined for problems with his or her tonsils and adenoids. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy may be required to return the child to full health.
   Self-Help for the Light Snorer
   Adults who suffer from mild or occasional snoring should try the following self-help remedies:
   Adopt a healthy and athletic lifestyle to develop excellent muscle tone and lose weight.
   Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines before bedtime.
   Avoid alcohol for at least four hours and heavy meals or snacks for three hours before retiring.
   Establish regular sleeping patterns
   Sleep on your side rather than your back.
   Tilt the head of your bed upwards four inches.
   Remember, snoring means obstructed breathing, and obstruction can be serious. It’s not amusing, and not hopeless.
5. Brite Tiger says:

   January 5, 2010 at 10:48 am

   Snoring is not a joke, and it’s not just a nuisance.
   Snoring is often a symptom of a serious disorder called sleep apnea. This can hurt your heart and even kill you. You need to go to a sleep clinic without delay – question your doctor to refer you.
   In most cases apnea can be 100% eliminated by the use of a night breathing machine called a CPAP. It might take a night or two to get used to it, but then you will not only not snore AT ALL anymore, you will feel much better during the day, too.
   Please do not delay in seeing a sleep specialist – it’s very vital! Contrary to what many people believe, you do NOT have to be overweight to have sleep apnea.
6. Maple says:

   January 5, 2010 at 11:27 am

   there really is no cure but if u go get those breath right strips it will stop it iam not sure were u can get them but that work for my g/f’s dad
7. beaner says:

   January 5, 2010 at 12:02 pm

   Snoring when u sleep is because u r too tired during the day time.
   Relax yourself n do not work too hard on yourself.
8. bericold says:

   January 5, 2010 at 12:34 pm

   see the really long one
   and many overweight people snore.
   and there are snoring clinics and sleep clinics to help.
9. macdoodl says:

   January 5, 2010 at 1:20 pm

   People snore when they are very tired. Just need rest for this case
10. Adsense$ says:

    January 5, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    there is soft tissue in the back of your throat that vibrates when you breathe heavy causing snoring to occur.
    You can go to a doctor and have a small piece of plastic inserted into the soft tissue which keeps it from vibrating making noise, permanent fix to snoring. It’s an outpatient procedure, takes a few minutes and is relatively painless.
    NY Times article on it …http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/22/health…
    The technology is new, so check with your local doctor to see if he can perform it or if he can recommend someone.
11. londonha says:

    January 5, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    mostly blocked nasal passages, from either snot or the fact that the persons nasal passages happen to be “smaller” or just the position they are in makes a blockage.
    that’s why they sell those nasal strips that really are pulling the passages open wider.

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