Pewaukee, Mukwonago & Delafield
What Causes Snoring?
When breathing in, air on its way to the lungs travels by the tongue, the soft palate, the uvula, and the tonsils. Snoring is caused by the muscles in your throat becoming too relaxed or too bulky to allow for smooth full airway flow. The air, as it flows through the narrowed passageway, will vibrate the structures of the throat which causes the noise traditionally heard in snoring patients. When a person is awake, the muscles in the back of the throat tighten to hold these structures in place and prevent them from collapsing and vibrating in the airway.
Snoring by itself does not constitute a danger to the patient. However, since it’s caused by similar concerns as OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), it may be a signal that a more serious condition is present.
Don’t panic if you snore - it does not automatically mean you have OSA! However, if you have any concerns that the snoring might be related to OSA, especially if you experience any other associated symptoms listed below, it would be prudent to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist to be evaluated for sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
During the night, you may experience frequent awakenings. The cessations in breathing can lead the body to recognize a lack of oxygen and will trigger you to awaken. Other symptoms can include:
During the day, sufferers may experience:
Long-term symptoms can include:
Snoring is believed to occur in anywhere from 30% of women to over 40% of men.
Snoring by itself doesn't constitute a danger to the patient. However, since it's caused by similar concerns as OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), it may be a signal that a more serious condition is present.
If you have any concerns that your snoring might be related to OSA, it would be prudent to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist to be evaluated for sleep apnea.