Snoring may occur nightly or intermittently. Though more common in males and those who are overweight, snoring is a problem of both genders. Snoring usually increases in severity as people age. It causes disruptions to your sleep and your bed-partner’s sleep. It can lead to fragmented and un-refreshing sleep which translates into poor daytime function (tiredness, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating).
While you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward, and your throat becomes narrow and “floppy.” As you breathe, the walls of the throat begin to vibrate – generally when you breathe in, but also, to a lesser extent, when you breathe out. These vibrations lead to the characteristic sound of snoring. The narrower your airway, the greater the vibration and the louder your snoring. Sometimes the walls of the throat collapse completely so that it is completely occluded, creating a condition called Sleep Apnea (cessation of breathing). This is a serious condition which requires medical attention.
Symptoms
- Loud vibrating, rattling, noisy sound while breathing during sleep. This may be a symptom of sleep apnea.
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
- Morning Headaches
- Recent Weight Gain
- Waking up in the morning feeling unrefreshed
- Dry Mouth upon awakening.
- Reduced Attention, Concentration, or Memory
- Observed Pauses in Breathing During Sleep