Is snoring harmless or not?

Who struggles with snoring problems?

In fact, we all snore from time to time, regardless of our age. Even one in ten children sometimes makes a snoring noise at night. This happens especially when you have a cold or a glass too many. As we age, the mucous membrane in the pharynx thickens, which can result in more frequent snoring.

There are also differences between men and women. In men, as many as 20 percent snore, while in women it occurs in only 1 in 10.

What causes the sound of snoring?

During sleep, organs and tissues relax, including those in the throat. The soft palate and the back of the tongue close together and narrow the airway. With severe constriction, the uvula, tongue and throat walls can be drawn together, causing vibrations and the typical snoring sound. You can compare this to deflating a balloon: the narrower the opening, the more vibrations and sound.

Factors that contribute to snoring

1. Anatomical features: Several physical features can contribute to snoring, such as a uvula that is too long, palate that is too flabby or thick, tongue that is too long, or backward displacement of the lower jaw. Even the shape of your neck can affect it, as it determines how easily air can flow through the airways. Airway strictures can also be caused by inflamed tonsils, especially in children.

2. Lifestyle: You have partial control over snoring. Smoking can irritate the throat and thicken the pharynx, making airflow difficult. If you are overweight, fat accumulation around the throat can partially block the airway. Alcohol consumption shortly before bedtime also increases the risk of snoring.

3. Sleeping position: Sleeping on your back increases the risk of snoring because your tongue can sink back and obstruct airflow. The use of sleep and sedatives or overtiredness can also affect snoring behavior.

4. Stuffy nose: A stuffy nose can obstruct the airway, especially during a cold, allergy, polyps or a crooked nasal septum.

Is snoring serious?

On its own, no. However, snoring can be a social problem because of the loud noise, similar to loud screaming or a gig. Even light snoring can disrupt your partner's sleep, leading to relationship problems or forcing partners to sleep separately.

Warning of sleep apnea

Narrowing of the airways can lead to breathlessness, known as sleep apnea. This can lead to frequent awakenings, often with shock, followed by renewed breathing and continuation of sleep. This is usually accompanied by very loud snoring and can have serious effects on sleep quality, resulting in daytime fatigue, concentration and memory problems, and even dangerous situations such as falling asleep at the wheel. Sleep apnea is also associated with certain cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, narrowing of the coronary arteries and heart failure.

What can you do about snoring?

1. Ensure a healthy lifestyle: Try to lose weight if overweight, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption before bedtime.

2. Do not use sleep aids without medical advice.

3. Consider nasal drops or nasal spray for a stuffy nose, but do not use them for more than seven days.

4. Avoid sleeping on your back, such as by attaching a tennis ball to the back of your pajamas.

5. Have allergies checked by a family doctor, as treating them can also reduce snoring.

Possible medical devices for snoring:

• Throat sprays that coat the tissues in the throat and reduce vibrations.
• Throat strips that melt in the throat and lubricate the throat tissues.
• Nasal strips that dilate the nostrils for improved airflow and breathing comfort.
• Nasal spreaders placed in the nostrils to reduce the intensity of snoring.
• Sleep braces that shift the lower jaw forward to keep the pharynx open during the night.