Snoring

Definition

Considerations

Snoring is common in adults and usually is not a sign of an underlying disorder.

Sometimes, however, snoring can be a sign of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea. This means you have periods when you are not breathing for more than 10 seconds while you sleep. During an apnea episode, there is a long period of silence just after snoring. The episode is followed by a sudden snort or gasp when breathing resumes. Then, snoring starts all over again. If you have sleep apnea, this cycle generally happens several times a night.

Risks associated with sleep apnea include stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart attack due to lack of oxygen. A doctor (or a sleep specialist) can tell if you have sleep apnea by doing a sleep study either at home or in a hospital setting.

Causes

In most people, the reason for snoring is not known. Some potential causes (other than sleep apnea) include:

• Being overweight, which leads to excessive neck tissue that puts pressure on the airways
• Last month of pregnancy
• Nasal congestion from colds or allergies, especially if it lasts a long time
• Swelling of the muscular part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate) or uvula, the piece of tissue that hangs down in the back of the mouth
• Swollen adenoids and tonsils that block the airways
• Using sleeping pills, antihistamines, or alcohol at bedtime

References

Tung A. The biology and genetics of obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiol Clin North America. 2005;23(3): 445-461.

Goh YH. The physiologic impact of sleep apnea on wakefulness. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2003;36(3): 423-435.

Kushida CA, Morgenthaler TI, Littner MR, et al. Practice parameters for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliances: an update for 2005. Sleep. 2006 Feb 1;2(2):240-243.