At least 45% of normal adults snore from time to time. 25% of people snore constantly. Snoring problem is most commonly seen in obese men and increases day by day with age.
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF SNORING?
The sound in the form of noise that occurs when there is narrowness in the airway behind the mouth and nose is called snoring. . The back of the tongue and the area where the soft palate and uvula meet the nasal cavity is a region that can narrow spontaneously. When these overlap each other, they vibrate with breathing and snoring occurs. Someone who snores has at least one of the following problems.
Tongue and throat muscle tension is reduced. Loose muscles cannot prevent the tongue from sliding towards the back of the throat when lying on your back. This phenomenon occurs when someone loses muscle control during their sleep after relaxing by taking alcohol or medication. In some people, snoring may occur due to relaxation in the deep phase of sleep.
Excessive size of the tissues in the throat. Large tonsils and adenoids are the most common cause of snoring in children. In obese people, thick neck tissue is shown as the reason. Cysts and tumors can rarely snore in this way.
Excessive sagging and longness of the soft palate and uvula narrow the airway towards the throat. Because it hangs down into the airway, it causes snoring like a valve. A person with nasal congestion creates excessive vacuum in the nasal passages to take in air. This vacuum pulls the tissues that may collapse in the throat towards the airway. Thus, snoring begins to occur in a person who does not snore when the nose is open. This explains why some people snore only during allergic periods or when they have flu or sinusitis. Nasal deformations are known as the causes of this type of nasal congestion. Deviation is defined as the middle part of the nose protruding to the sides. It is the most common intranasal deformation.
IS SNORING A SERIOUS PROBLEM?
Socially, yes! This seriously threatens family life. A person who snores becomes a laughing stock. Other members of the family are held responsible for sleepless nights. A snorer becomes an unwanted roommate on holidays and business trips. Medically yes! The damage the person inflicts on himself is greater. There were nights spent without rest �r. High blood pressure is more common in people who snore excessively than in people who do not snore. The most severe form of snoring is the "obstructive type of snoring disease." In this disease, known as "sleep apnea", severe snoring is interrupted by a period of breathlessness. Meanwhile, breathing has completely stopped. More than 7 breathlessness attacks lasting more than 10 seconds in an hour are seriously life-threatening. In this case, your doctor will recommend that you be examined at a sleep center. In patients with apnea (cessation of breathing), blockages occur 30-300 times per hour. Thus, the blood oxygen level drops extremely during sleep. During this period when oxygen decreases, the heart has to pump more blood. After a while, the heart rhythm deteriorates, and over the years, high blood pressure and heart enlargement set in. People with obstructive snoring can go into a deep sleep phase in a very small portion of their sleep. The deep phase is the only way to true rest. If a night is spent without rest, the day will be sleepy, tired and unproductive. Drowsiness will occur while driving or at work.
CAN SNORING BE TREATED?
Many types of snoring can be treated. The recommendations listed below should be followed for adult snorers.
A sporty lifestyle should be chosen to gain good muscle tone.
People who snore should not take sleeping pills, sedatives and allergy medications called antihistamines before sleep.
4 hours before sleep. One should avoid drinking alcohol 3 hours before.
One should avoid eating heavy meals 3 hours before sleep.
One should avoid excessive fatigue.
Lying on one's side should be preferred instead of lying on one's back. The old suggestion of sewing a tennis ball onto the back of pajamas is still a useful method. In this way, sleeping on your back is prevented.
Turn your entire bed to one side, approximately 10 cm, so that the head of your bed is higher. For this purpose, placing a brick under one side of your bed will be suitable for your purpose.
Give time for people who do not snore at home to fall asleep before you. People who snore in every position are called "heavy snorers". These people need more help than the suggestions above.
When snoring becomes harmful to the person and his family It would be appropriate to consult with your specialist doctor. This is especially important when there is a problem of not being able to breathe during sleep (loud snoring is interrupted by a period of breathlessness). It becomes even more important to consult your doctor. A detailed examination of the snoring patient's nose, mouth, throat and neck should be performed. Sleep laboratory studies are valuable in determining the extent of snoring and the health of the snorer.
Treatment is undoubtedly based on diagnosis. This may be as simple as treating allergy or infection, or may require surgery for tonsil, adenoid or nasal disorders. Snoring – Successful results are obtained from snoring surgeries, which ensure breathlessness, stabilization of moving tissues and widening of the airway. This is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty surgery (UPPP). For the patient, it does not feel very different from tonsillectomy. Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), where laser is used, is another surgery that can be performed with local anesthesia. In cases where surgery is too risky or not desired by the patient, the patient can sleep by wearing a mask that delivers pressurized air to the throat (CPAP). Every child who snores chronically should be examined in detail by an ENT specialist. In cases where tonsil and adenoid surgery is necessary, surgical intervention will provide significant benefits to the child's health and development.
Remember: Snoring is a dangerous interruption of breathing. Snoring is not funny, it is not hopeless.
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