22 Feb 2018

A public health medicine specialist at Princess Marina Hospital says everyone snores occasionally, and it is usually not something to worry about.

“However, if you regularly snore at night, it can disrupt the quality of your sleep, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, and increased health problems,”  Dr Orapeleng Phuswane-Katse said in an interview with BOPA on Wednesday.

She explained that snoring happens when one cannot move air freely through the nose and throat during sleep.

This makes the surrounding tissues vibrate, which produces the snoring sound.

Dr Phuswane-Katse said people who snore often have too much throat and nasal tissue or floppy tissue that is more prone to vibrate, adding that the position of the tongue can also get in the way of smooth breathing.

“The more narrowed your airway, the more forceful the airflow becomes. This causes tissue vibration to increase, which causes your snoring to grow louder,” said Dr Phuswane-Katse.

She further said the following conditions can affect the airway and cause snoring-frequent frustration or anger, a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart conditions and stroke.

She explained that an increased risk of behaviour problems, such as aggression or learning problems in children with obstructive sleep apnea and an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents due to lack of sleep may also contribute to snoring.

She explained that consuming too much alcohol before bedtime is the main cause as alcohol relaxes throat muscles and decreases natural defences against airway obstruction.

”Not getting enough sleep can lead  to further throat relaxation and sleeping position as snoring is typically most frequent and loudest when sleeping on the back as gravity’s effect on the throat narrows the airway,” she said.

She further stated that some people have a long soft palate or large tonsils, which can narrow the airway and that overweight people are more likely to snore.

Dr Phuswane-Katse noted that getting enough sleep for at least seven to eight hours per night and laying on your side during sleep time is the best remedy as lying on one’s back allows the tongue to fall backward into the throat, narrowing the airway and partially obstructing the airflow.

She said people should avoid alcohol and sedatives as they depress the central nervous system, causing excessive relaxation of muscles including the tissue on the throat.

She advised people to treat nasal congestion as having allergies or a deviated septum can limit airflow, thus forcing one to breathe through the mouth, which increases the likelihood of snoring.

One should consult a doctor if snoring is accompanied by difficulty in concentrating, sore throat, restless sleep, morning headaches and high blood pressure. Ends