Snoring is common and can happen to anyone. Several factors, including an unhealthy weight, a common cold, allergies, alcohol consumption, or simply the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, can contribute to the condition.
Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Sandeep Nayar, Principal Director and HOD, Chest and Respiratory Diseases, BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, describes snoring as a noisy breathing that occurs while sleeping. He says, "This vibrating, rattling, snorting, or grumbling sound during sleep occurs when there’s an obstruction in the upper airway. It occurs during sleep because during this time, the soft tissues and tongue relax, resulting in partial blockage of the airway."
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Harmless Vs. Dangerous Snoring
Snoring occurs when the movement of the air meets resistance, explains Dr Nayar. It doesn’t necessarily mean that one is suffering from any medical condition, but it can sometimes signal serious sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea.
According to the doctor, snoring is mostly an annoyance for the person sleeping next to you. But gradually, it starts affecting the patient's own sleep quality.
The Sleep Foundation suggests that the severity of snoring can range from ‘light and barely audible to heavy and disruptive.’
Primary snoring, also regarded as the first stage of sleep-disordered breathing, is not usually seen as a health concern unless there are signs of breathing problems or sleep apnoea.
The Risk Of Sleep Apnoea
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep disorder, in which your breathing stops and restarts many times while you sleep. One of the complications associated with the condition is that it may hinder or prevent your body from getting enough oxygen, which can lead to an even bigger problem.
Frequent, loud snoring is a common symptom of the condition.
Again, Dr Nayar highlights that not all snorers have sleep apnoea or other underlying medical conditions.
However, as snoring gets louder and more prolonged, the chances of having sleep apnoea are greater, he says, explaining that the airways tend to collapse or become blocked while asleep and can result in a cessation of breathing for more than 10 seconds, known as apnoea episode.
This may occur numerous times throughout the night, he adds.
Also Read: Easy Home Remedies to Reduce Loud Snoring
Other symptoms of OSA include:
- Episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep with a fall in oxygen saturation
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Choking sensation and sudden awakening known as “arousal”
- Morning headache and lethargy
- Difficulty concentrating on work during the day
- Mood swings and an increased risk of depression
- High blood pressure or a high heart rate; even arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, in some cases
How To Stop Snoring For Good?
To stop or manage snoring, Dr Nayar recommends starting with lifestyle modifications.
He says, “If someone is overweight, then weight reduction is mandatory. Ask to avoid alcohol or sedatives at night. Patients should be encouraged to improve sleep hygiene and quit smoking.”
Additionally, if the patient is suffering from OSA, then the application of a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device overnight is recommended, he concludes.