Loud sounds that a person makes involuntarily during sleep are a social problem, unlike sleep apnea. This is a real threat to the health and even life of a snorer. So why does a person snore? Physiologically, snoring is the vibration of soft tissues of the pharynx when air passes through it during sleep, mainly when breathing through the mouth.
Causes of snoring
In an active state, all human muscles are in good shape, but during sleep they relax, including the muscles of the pharynx, as a result of which the free lumen narrows. There are many reasons for this, They can be conditionally divided into two groups:
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Anatomical
- Hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils.
- Curvated nasal septum.
- Presence of adenoids and polyps in the nasopharynx.
- Congenital defects of the lower jaw, underdevelopment.
- Obesity, etc.
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Functional
- Chronic fatigue, lack of sleep.
- Constant stress, nervous tension.
- Smoking, alcohol abuse.
- Thyroid gland dysfunction (hypothyroidism).
- Menopause in women, etc.
Types of snoring
Doctors divide snoring into several types.
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Isolated:
- Episodic, may be associated with alcohol, fatigue, colds.
- Permanent, occurs at least three times a week.
- Complicated:
- The lumen of the airways narrows so much that air stops flowing into the lungs, and apnea occurs - this is a complete stop of breathing during sleep.
Not every snorer develops OSA – obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, but if you don’t start on time fight snoring, the consequences can be severe.
Why is snoring dangerous?
If a person starts snoring, this means that he has problems breathing.
- The more often the sounds of snoring are heard, the less oxygen reaches the brain. In addition, the snorer is often woken up, or he wakes up on his own, which prevents the body from recovering normally during sleep. The next day, drowsiness, fatigue, and a feeling of lack of sleep occur.
- You should know what apnea is. This is one of the most serious consequences of snoring - temporary cessation of breathing. Due to the sharp A decrease in oxygen levels in the blood can lead to heart attack, stroke and even death. Snoring can cause the development of hypertension, heart failure and other serious diseases.
- Children can snore too. This is often associated with the presence of adenoids and enlarged tonsils. Poor sleep is very dangerous for children. After all, it is during sleep that growth hormone is produced. If the causes of snoring are not removed, the child may develop sleep apnea. enuresis, activity and school performance will decrease, and developmental delays will appear.
That is why it is imperative to remove the reasons that interfere with normal sleep, or find a remedy for snoring that will reduce the risk of developing serious pathologies.
