Is snoring rocking your bedroom?

Dr Douglas Street, Contributor

Not getting enough sleep can make you miserable, sleepy during the day, and have problems concentrating. A noisy environment can interfere with sleep. One of the most common causes of a noisy bedroom is snoring. Snoring can wreak havoc on a relationship; rectifying it can literally save marriages at times.

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft tissues at the back of the throat which occurs during sleep. Narrowing of the upper airway increases the force of the air passing through it, which can lead to vibration of the structures it passes. It may occur on its own (primary snoring) or accompany other more serious health problems such as obstructive sleep apnoea. It occurs in about 45 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women on a regular basis and about 25 per cent of persons occasionally.

There are some situations that can contribute to the problem. Sleeping on the back can cause the tongue to fall backwards, narrowing the airways, causing the structures to vibrate when air passes through. Alcohol and some medications can cause relaxation of the muscles in the neck, leading to the same situation. Being overweight can cause narrowing of the airway as well, thereby causing snoring. Young children sometimes snore because their adenoids (structures at the back of the throat) are enlarged, which narrows the airway. Mouth-breathing, due to obstruction in the nasal passage, can cause snoring as well. This obstruction may be due to nasal allergies, the cold, or an abnormal nasal septum (the structure that separates the nostrils).

Interestingly, snoring mostly occurs in REM sleep (deepest phase of sleep).

Snoring may also be caused by obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). In this condition, breathing and snoring are interrupted by periods of no breathing at all. When the oxygen level in the blood gets too low, breathing is kick-started with a loud snort or gasp.

Snoring is usually only a problem for the snorer's partner; however, OSA is usually associated with elevated blood pressure so there is a higher prevalence of strokes and heart problems. It also interferes with sleep, so there may be daytime drowsiness, concentration problems, irritability, and increased risk of accidents.

To limit snoring, first address the causative factors mentioned above. You may need to visit your doctor as medical interventions may be necessary. OSA may need a specific machine for treatment.

Dr Douglas Street is a general practitioner and has private practices at Trinity Medical Centre, Trinity Mall at 3 Barnett Street in Montego Bay, and Omega Medical Centre at Plaza de Negril, Negril. Send feedback to drdougstreet@yahoo.com.