SNORING

The problem

Snoring is disruptive to family life. It causes other family members to lose sleep and can lead to resentfulness, especially by spouses. Snorers are unwelcome roommates on holidays and business trips. Holidaying roommates have reported sleeping in the bathroom just to get away from the loud snoring!

Snoring often disturbs the sleeping patterns of the snorer as well, robbing the snorer from any restful sleep. This usually manifests as tiredness the following day. Last but not least, snoring can be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnoea, which can be a serious medical problem.

What causes snoring?

Medical research has discovered that snoring is often(>80%) related to physical obstruction during sleep. The obstruction occurs when the muscles of the palate, the uvula, and sometimes the tongue relax during deep sleep, and act as a blockage or vibrating noise-maker when the air moves across these structures. Excessive bulkiness of tissue in the back of the throat as it narrows into the airway can also contribute to snoring, as can a long palate and/or uvula.

What are the existing treatments for snoring?

Recommended cures for snoring vary from sewing a tennis ball into a pocket in a snorer's pyjamas to electric shock bands that give the snorer a shock when they start snoring! Most of these remedies and devices are based on trying to keep the snorer off their back or on the assumption that a person can be trained not to snore. Unfortunately, the snorer has no control over their snoring.

Snoring occurs when floppy tissue in the airway relaxes during sleep and vibrates. Most snoring is caused by an enlarged soft palate and uvula at the back of the mouth.