SNORING/SLEEP APNEA FAQ
 

What causes snoring?

Snoring is caused by a constriction in airflow while sleeping. When you fall asleep, the muscles in your mouth and throat relax. The base of your tongue drops back and narrows your airway. The more narrow the opening, the louder the snoring. The loudest recorded snoring is 87 decibels. This is somewhere between a jackhammer (85 decibels) and a lawnmower (95 decibels).

What are some factors that affect snoring?

• Sleeping on your back or on overly soft pillows

• Difficulty with nasal breathing

• Enlarged adenoids or tonsils

•  Obesity

• Enlarged soft tissues in the throat area

•  A small lower jaw

•  Alcohol and certain medications

•  Cigarette smoke and other irritants

What causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat completely close the airway so that air cannot flow into the lungs. The sleeper may stop breathing for anywhere from 10 seconds to 2 minutes at a time. It can be life-threatening because of the interruptions of breathing. OSA can be associated with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and stroke.

What are some symptoms of OSA?

•  Loud snoring

• Periodic stoppages of breathing

• Significant daytime sleepiness

• Restless sleep

• Difficulty concentrating and poor memory

• Irritability or personality change

How can I stop snoring?

• You can reduce or eliminate snoring by:

• Sleeping on your side to counteract the effect of gravity

• Normalizing your weight through proper diet and exercise

• Relieving nasal congestion with nasal sprays or nasal strips

•  Avoiding alcohol or sleeping pills within 4 hours of bedtime