Don't Ignore Your Snore

Snoring occurs when the muscles of the throat, tongue and soft palate relax during deep sleep. The tissue sags, narrowing the air passage and causing one to inhale more forcefully, which causes tissues to vibrate. The causes of snoring are many: cigarette smoking, obesity, nasal congestion, drinking alcohol, eating too close to bedtime, or physical characteristics like a deviated septum.

When snoring progresses to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the situation can become a health risk. In OSA, a person stops breathing completely for long periods of time, depriving the body of oxygen. "Patients with OSA have an increased risk of stroke and heart attack at night," says University of Texas-Houston otolaryngology and pediatrics professor Dr. Michael D. Poole, in the February issue of the UT Lifetime Health Letter. Dr. Poole says not everyone who snores will develop OSA, but those who do, need to seek medical help.

If your snoring is less serious, there are dozens of ways to treat it, either with over-the-counter therapies or lifestyle changes. Habit changes that can relieve snoring include: learning to sleep on your side; not eating heavy meals or drinking alcohol within three hours of bedtime; not smoking; having fresh air in the bedroom, and a humidifier to moisten the air; losing excess weight; and sleeping with your head raised.

- From The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/03_15_99-snore.html