Causes of snoring through the nose

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Causes of snoring: general information, risk factors and diagnosis

Causes of snoring include anatomical features and functional disorders that lead to the appearance of a characteristic sound during sleep

The symptom occurs in children, women and men; the intensity of snoring depends on the person’s constitution and position during sleep.

Table of contents:

  • congenital anomalies in the structure of the nose;
  • nasal polyp;
  • malocclusion;
  • insufficient muscle tone of the soft palate;
  • deviated nasal septum;
  • inflamed tonsils;
  • various nasal injuries;
  • enlarged adenoids;
  • other reasons.

The peculiarities of night breathing are deep breathing movements regulated by the center of the brain. Complete relaxation of the muscles of the whole body is accompanied by complete relaxation of smooth muscle and striated muscle fibers of the entire human body.

When should you worry? Regardless of age, one can suspect the presence of the nocturnal phenomenon of snoring due to a state of morning fatigue and a decrease in the quality of rest during sleep. This leads to low performance during the day, lethargy, and weakness. Snoring bothers members of the entire family who are in the same room as the snorer. The application of the achievements of modern medicine in otolaryngology will eliminate the unpleasant symptom.

The mechanism of snoring is quite simple: when certain factors have a detrimental effect on the airways, the walls of these airways begin to deform. Gradually, the deformation reaches a stage when, with the next inhalation, air flows touch the deformed walls, which creates the sound characteristic of snoring.

Apnea syndrome is one of the possible consequences of obstruction developing in the bronchi. This phenomenon is extremely dangerous, since breathing can stop during apnea. This provokes the production of stress hormones, increased blood pressure, worsening the condition of the bronchi and sleep disturbances.

Factors influencing the occurrence of snoring:

  • smoking;
  • obesity;
  • alcohol abuse;
  • nasal injuries;
  • untreated polyps, sinusitis, rhinitis.

Common causes of snoring, regardless of age and gender:

  • anatomical diseases leading to snoring (polyps, cysts, tumors, deformation of the nasal septum, prolapse of the soft tissues of the pharynx, broncho-obstruction);
  • functional disorders (uncomfortable position, runny nose, weakness of the tongue muscles, retraction of the uvula, lack of sleep, alcohol intoxication).

Diagnosis includes a comprehensive examination by an otolaryngologist for pathology of the nasal passages and oropharynx. If the patient is young, it is recommended to consult a pulmonologist to rule out bronchial asthma. In case of a long history of smoking, a spirometric examination is performed to exclude the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

  • medications (moisturizers, drops and sprays, for irrigating the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, toning soft tissues);
  • traditional methods (gymnastics, exercises, plant extracts, as an auxiliary therapy);
  • devices (special clips and clamps for correcting soft tissues, maintaining intrapharyngeal pressure to prevent collapse of the pharyngeal walls);
  • surgical (removal and excision of pathological formations to restore patency of the upper respiratory tract).

Prevention of snoring begins with choosing the right position, in which vibrations are reduced or completely stopped. For anatomical deformations of the nasal septum in a child, you can use special products, drops or sprays to soften the mucous membrane. In older children, surgical correction is possible.

Limiting alcohol consumption and smoking leads to a gradual restoration of the body's resources and the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. The muscles become toned, the soft palate is pulled to its original position. Quitting smoking in heavy smokers stops snoring without additional treatment methods during the first month after completely quitting nicotine.

Causes of snoring in men: features and treatment

The causes of snoring in men include a more severe pathology than in women; the syndrome is extremely common among the male population. Snoring in men increases the risk of nocturnal respiratory arrests, which develop due to complete collapse of the upper respiratory tract or bronchial obstruction.

  • up to 30 years (acquired deviated nasal septum after injury, smoking, chronic inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, polyps, allergies);
  • after 30 years (chronic lung diseases, excess weight problems, alcoholism).

Treatment up to 30 years of age includes drug treatment aimed at maintaining the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx in the required moist state. Only proper hydration will help maintain the tone of the respiratory system, which, in turn, will reduce the severity of snoring.

The clips are installed by intranasally inserting a horseshoe-shaped device into the nasal cavity. There is pressure on the nasal mucosa, which prevents the occurrence of air phonation and restores nasal breathing, eliminating the causes of snoring in men. Clips are used for narrowed nasal passages or a deviated nasal septum. Treatment after 30 years is aimed at the use of palatal implants, fixators that have a tightening effect on the soft tissues of the oropharynx and prevent vibration during deep breathing.

Surgical treatment is indicated to remove formations and restore airway patency. Treatment of bronchial obstruction and sleep apnea is carried out under the supervision of a pulmonologist and requires the prescription of specific medications and inhalers. Men are recommended to sleep on their side, at a slight incline, in a well-ventilated room.

Causes of snoring in women: features, snoring during pregnancy and in children, treatment

The causes of snoring in women are less varied than in men and are associated with weakened muscle tone in the palate.

Features of female snoring:

  • at a young age (prolapse of soft tissues of the nasopharynx, allergies, polyps, rhinitis, inflammation of the larynx);
  • after (obesity, bronchial asthma, hyperplasia and cysts of the respiratory tract, menopause).

Snoring may become worse during pregnancy and may be due to the following factors:

  • weight gain;
  • significant overwork;
  • stressful conditions.

If the muscles of the palate and oropharynx lose the tone necessary for functioning, then the soft tissues will be susceptible to prolapse, which will cause snoring.

The main causes of snoring in children are:

  • congenital curvature of the nasal septum;
  • elongation of the uvula;
  • adenoid hyperplasia;
  • enlargement of the palatine tonsils.

The causes of snoring in women are a violation of the passage of air through the nose and laryngopharynx; treatment consists of eliminating formations and narrowings.

In adult women, if there are prerequisites for a decrease in the tone of the soft palate, transparent mouth guards or nipple clamps are used to support the tissue. In case of severe problems and pathological processes associated with the proliferation of the mucous membrane, surgical treatment and complex administration of drugs in tablets are required.

Treatment for women is carried out:

  • medications: various aerosols, sprays and homeopathic preparations that help moisturize and tone the mucous membrane;
  • surgery to restore the affected area by removal or correction;
  • using devices to strengthen the muscles of the soft palate without medications or surgeries.

Folk remedies include gymnastics and exercises, performed daily from five minutes to half an hour. They increase the tone of the palate and eliminate snoring for a long time.

Specialty: Otorhinolaryngologist Work experience: 29 years

Specialty: Audiologist Work experience: 7 years

Source: http://gajmorit.com/hrap/prichiny/

Snoring: causes, diagnosis, how to treat at home

Snoring is a vibrating sound that occurs during sleep when the walls of the throat narrow and the muscles of the tongue and palate relax. People who snore cannot hear their own sounds, preventing others from sleeping. By disrupting proper sleep, snoring leads to the development of insomnia, neurasthenia and even psychosis.

Persons who snore in their sleep not only cause a number of inconveniences to others, but are also in serious danger themselves. Snoring is a sign of existing health problems. This is a symptom of sleep apnea associated with impaired air flow through the respiratory tract.

A snoring person stops breathing for a moment, the snoring stops, a forced inhalation occurs and breathing returns to normal. The resulting oxygen deficiency leads to hypoxia of internal organs, the development of arrhythmia, stroke, heart attack and other complications that reduce the quality of life.

Etiology

Snoring is a sound vibration caused by a narrowing of the walls of the pharynx due to excessive relaxation of the muscles of the tongue and the overhanging soft palate during sleep.

The causes of snoring are varied. One of them is a natural process - aging of the body. The muscles of the mouth and pharynx become weak. They cannot keep the airways open.

Some of the most common causes of snoring include:

  • Congenital narrowness of the pharynx and nasal passages;
  • Anatomical features of the body - malocclusion, elongated tongue;
  • Diseases of the ENT organs: rhinitis, sinusitis, tonsil hypertrophy;
  • Swelling of the nasal mucosa due to allergies;
  • Neoplasms that obstruct air movement - polyps and tumors;
  • Bad habits - smoking and alcoholism;
  • Increased fatigue of the body: lack of strength to maintain muscle tone;
  • Endocrine disorders - obesity and hypothyroidism, in which tissues become flabby and muscles become loose;
  • Menopause period in women;
  • Myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases;
  • Injuries to the nerves of the pharynx;
  • Brain injuries and diseases;
  • Taking sedatives and hypnotics;
  • Sleeping on your back.

The main cause of childhood snoring is chronic pathology - tonsillitis or adenoiditis. Acute or chronic rhinitis, manifested by nasal congestion, can also cause snoring in a child.

Symptoms of snoring

People who snore in their sleep quickly get tired, feel overwhelmed and are unable to work fully. They experience daytime sleepiness, become irritable and distracted. Mental abilities decrease, concentration is impaired.

Snoring in men leads to problems in intimate life, the development of sexual dysfunction and hormonal imbalance. Constant night awakenings interfere with the normal production of testosterone, and hypoxia of internal organs disrupts the functioning of the entire body. Men who snore while sleeping are twice as likely to die prematurely as those who do not snore.

It is commonly believed that snoring is a men's thing, but this is not true. Many women suffer from this unpleasant phenomenon. Women's snoring is not much different from men's. Pathological signs of snoring in women are headache, lack of sleep, drowsiness, arrhythmia, memory impairment.

Children often snore in their sleep. Short-term cessation of breathing during sleep in children is extremely difficult to tolerate and affects the child’s health. Little snorers sleep with their heads thrown back, are pale, and breathe through their mouths during the day. They are most susceptible to infections. In the morning, such children wake up with a dry mouth, sweat easily, become restless, inattentive, absent-minded, and slow. If a child snores through his nose during sleep, you should consult an ENT doctor.

Symptoms of impaired night breathing in children are:

  1. Increased moodiness, fatigue,
  2. Decline in school performance,
  3. Restless sleep
  4. Nocturnal enuresis.

At night, during sleep, children produce somatotropic hormone, which is responsible for the growth of the child. Since snoring disrupts normal sleep, hormone production decreases. These children's growth slows down.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis and treatment of snoring, as well as its consequences, is carried out by a somnologist or otolaryngologist. Only after an examination and conversation with the patient will a specialist tell you how to get rid of snoring.

A polysomnographic study can identify the causes of snoring. The patient's blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate are measured while they sleep.

To exclude ENT pathology, consultation with an otorhinolaryngologist and rhinoscopy, pharyngoscopy, and functional tests are indicated.

Additional examination methods are electroencephalography and computed tomography.

Treatment

To avoid the development of life-threatening complications, it is necessary to begin treatment for snoring as early as possible.

General preventive methods

To get rid of snoring, you need to eliminate its causes. This is precisely what general preventive therapy is aimed at.

  • Stop smoking and drinking alcohol three hours before bedtime.
  • Timely detect and treat ENT diseases.
  • Refrain from taking sedatives and hypnotics.
  • Humidify the air in the room.
  • Avoid contact with allergens - dust, pollen, woolen items, strong odors.
  • Lose weight.
  • Sleep on your side with your head elevated.

Exercises

To get rid of snoring, you need to train the muscles of the oral cavity, pharynx and tongue.

  1. Push your tongue forward and down, feel the tension of the muscles at its base and hold it in this position for a couple of seconds.
  2. Forcefully grasp a hard object with your teeth and hold for some time.
  3. Press your tongue on the hard palate until you feel tired.
  4. Pull your tongue towards your throat, exerting effort and straining your muscles. By touching the front of your neck with your finger, you can feel muscle tension.
  5. Whistling strengthens the muscles of the oral cavity. You need to whistle for 20 minutes a day while walking.
  6. In the evenings, gargle by throwing back your head and gurgling with water.

Adaptations

Intraoral anti-snoring devices can be used only in the absence of any contraindications or complications. If you have severe snoring and problems with nasal breathing, it is better to avoid them. These devices secure the lower jaw during sleep and ensure patency of the airway.

Anti-snoring clip

Anti-snoring clips are equipped with magnets that improve blood circulation and increase the tone of blood vessels. The clip is inserted into the nostrils and attached to the nasal septum. You can cure snoring with these clips in 2 weeks. They are approved for use by children over 12 years of age.

“Extra ENT” is an intraoral anti-snoring device that can be purchased at almost any pharmacy. The device fixes the lower jaw, pushing it forward, tones the respiratory muscles, prevents vibrations of the walls of the pharynx and increases the lumen of the airways. Long-term use of such a device can completely eliminate snoring or make it less loud.

Drug treatment

Currently, pharmacies sell various anti-snoring medications: tablets, aerosols, rinses, drops, tinctures.

  • "Asonor" is an effective nasal spray. Getting on the mucous membrane of the soft palate, it increases muscle tension during sleep. If the drug is used regularly, the first results will appear within 2 weeks.
  • "Doctor Snoring" is a dietary supplement containing eucalyptus extract and available in the form of a spray. The drug softens the mucous membrane, eliminates swelling, tones and increases the elasticity of the soft palate.
  • "Sominorm" also refers to dietary supplements. This spray contains essential oils and is intended for long-term use. These aerosols have no side effects, are not absorbed into the blood and are safe for pregnant women and children.
  • Antiallergic sprays reduce nasal congestion, eliminate runny nose and snoring. These include glucocorticosteroid drugs - Nasonex, Flixonase. They have pronounced anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects. They are also used for hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils and adenoiditis, which are always accompanied by snoring.
  • “Snorstop” is a homeopathic herbal complex for snoring, produced in tablet form.

Surgery

Surgical treatment of snoring is aimed at restoring the patency of the airways. Patients have nasal polyps, hypertrophied tonsils, adenoids removed, and the nasal septum is corrected.

If all of the above therapeutic measures do not help to cope with snoring, proceed to soft palate plastic surgery. During the operation, part of the soft palate is removed, which is located near the uvula and sags slightly. This allows you to increase the lumen of the respiratory tract. The soft palate is cauterized with a laser or electrocoagulator, which is subsequently scarred and tightened. The air flows freely through the airways into the lungs. Plastic surgery on the soft palate lasts only a few minutes, is painless and does not require rehabilitation. Such a surgical intervention does not help everyone get rid of snoring. Complications may develop after surgery.

Currently, radio wave therapy for snoring has gained the most popularity. This procedure has a number of advantages: it is safe, painless, quick, easy to tolerate, gives good results and eliminates snoring in one session. Patients maintain their usual diet and full functionality.

Video: how to get rid of snoring?

ethnoscience

There are many folk remedies that reduce nasal congestion, increase the tone of the respiratory muscles and eliminate snoring.

  1. It is recommended to gargle regularly with an infusion of oak bark and calendula.
  2. Baked carrots help cope with snoring. You need to eat whole carrots before your main meal or carrot puree with olive oil.
  3. Sea buckthorn oil restores nasal breathing. It should be instilled into each nasal passage for 3 weeks.
  4. Vegetable oil and glycerin eliminate discomfort in the nose and prevent damage to the mucous membrane during snoring.
  5. Olive oil is recommended for gargling for smokers. It clears the back of the throat where mucus accumulates.
  6. Nasal drops based on sea water are prescribed to people who snore during their sleep. Purified sea water, Aquamaris or Aqualor drops are approved for use by children from birth.

Source: http://uhonos.ru/dyxanie/xrap/

Doctor

If the patient really wants to live, doctors are powerless.

Snoring and fighting it.

Causes. “Laugh and the whole world will laugh with you. Snore and you will sleep alone." Every fourth of us remembers this saying when falling asleep, because that is how many people are susceptible to snoring. This property causes so much trouble for snorers that more than 300 devices designed to combat snoring are now on sale and in great demand. In stores you can find everything from chin straps and special mouthpieces to head restraints, neck collars and electronic devices. The problem is that only a few of them are truly effective.

The reason for snoring is that the weakening of muscle tone, and this happens in a state of drug and alcohol intoxication, after taking sleeping pills and simply in a state of deep physiological sleep, leads to the retraction of the nasopharyngeal muscles into the upper respiratory tract. In addition, in the same situations, relaxation of the soft palate may develop, and its uvula, which is normally pressed against the back wall of the pharynx, begins to hang freely into the nasopharynx cavity. The result will be the same - the hanging tissue will begin to vibrate in the air flow and produce sounds called snoring.

If the soft tissues of the pharynx are massive, this can also lead to snoring. An increase in the volume of soft tissues is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoid growths; sometimes, against the background of general obesity, there is also obesity of the pharynx, which also does not reduce the mass of nasopharyngeal tissue. If a person has a cold , then he almost always snores at night, because a stuffy nose makes it difficult for inhaled air to pass into the lungs; at the same time, in an attempt to inhale, the patient creates a large vacuum in the larynx, which leads to the retraction of soft tissue fragments into the respiratory tract and snoring.

“But if snoring disrupts sleep and the patient wakes up from suffocation, if loved ones begin to notice that snoring is interrupted periodically for 7-10 seconds, during which the snorer simply stops breathing, then this is a disease that needs to be treated. This condition is called apnea (apnea is Greek for “lack of breathing”),” Dr. Bailey emphasizes.

“Snoring has always been the butt of funny jokes,” says Dr. Bailey, “but it can be a harbinger of a fatal condition. Pauses in breathing during sleep and constant sleepiness during the day are almost certain signs of sleep apnea.”

During an attack of sleep apnea, the body begins to starve of oxygen; in order to somehow compensate for it, the heart begins to work harder to pump blood through the vessels faster. As a result, heart rhythm disturbances, increased blood pressure and expansion of the cavities of the heart develop.

Children who suffer from sleep apnea usually fall asleep very easily but have great difficulty waking up in the morning. Such a child almost always has problems with learning or behavior at school; they often suffer from bedwetting. And if a child sleeps at night with his mouth open, this means that his nose is blocked.

What to do. For cases of moderate or infrequent snoring, experts from the American Association of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery make the following recommendations. It is necessary to perform general strengthening physical exercises daily - this will increase the tone of the pharyngeal muscles. In addition, it is useful to lose excess weight, not drink alcohol before bed, stop taking tranquilizers and sleeping pills, and not take antihistamines before bed. It is highly advisable to sleep on your side rather than your back. Sew a pocket to the back of your night pajamas at the level of your shoulder blades and put a tennis ball in there. This is not a very convenient, but very effective way to force yourself to sleep on your side.

If you suspect you are suffering from sleep apnea, consult your doctor. You will be examined in a sleep laboratory. Treatment can vary from special simple physical exercises to a very complex surgical operation, during which excess tissue of the palate and nasopharynx will be removed.

Causes. In most cases, nasal congestion is a sign of a cold or allergy. But sometimes congestion can be a symptom of an underactive thyroid; adenoids, polyps, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses and deviated nasal septum; increased hormonal activity during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills. Nasal congestion is a side effect of taking medications containing reserpine (a blood pressure lowering drug). The cause of this unpleasant condition can be a tumor and even anger. Indeed, any emotional stress is often reflected in the condition of the nasal mucosa. Sexual arousal causes the nasal mucosa to swell in some people, which causes sneezing during intercourse. Be healthy!

What to do. 3,000 years ago, the ancient Chinese, to relieve nasal congestion, inhaled the aroma of a plant they called horsetail, and we call horsetail. Today you can freely buy its equivalent at any pharmacy - the vasoconstrictor drugs actifed and sudafed (names may be different). However, Dr. Bailey warns that these medications can cause high blood pressure, so their use should be limited. If you already suffer from hypertension, then you should not take any medications at all without first consulting your doctor.

“Nasal drops and aerosols such as neosynephrine are very good as vasoconstrictors,” continues Dr. Bailey, “but you should buy neosynephrine at a 0.25 percent concentration. Such a diluted drug can be taken for a month without fear of the rebound effect that is typical for using higher concentration drops.”

And this is an effect that is worth seriously thinking about. If high concentration drops are used for longer than 3-4 days, they themselves can cause swelling of the nasal mucosa instead of reducing it.

Dr. Bailey notes that pregnant women should not take vasoconstrictor medications because they may harm the baby's development. Fortunately, the hormonal changes that cause nasal congestion during pregnancy last no more than one month. If congestion is caused by taking birth control pills, then you need to replace them with others.

There is also a non-medicinal way to narrow the vessels of the nasal mucosa - this is to humidify the air you breathe. You can do this with a spray or humidifier, or you can simply stand in the bathroom with a hot shower on. However, Dr. Irwin Ciment, a professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, prefers to use the old methods tested by our ancestors to treat nasal congestion. “A cold must be treated with heat,” he says; Our grandmothers think so too.

“Indeed,” emphasizes Dr. Tsiment, “mustard plasters and warm chicken broth have every reason to be useful for colds. They dilute the secretion of the nasal mucosa; placing mustard plasters on the chest causes a rush of blood to the upper body and head, which increases blood flow in the nose, and hence secretion.

There is also an alternative treatment that is popular in Russia,” continues Dr. Tsiment, “mix 1 teaspoon of freshly grated radish with 150 grams of water, add 1 teaspoon of honey to the mixture and gargle with this solution. This treatment stimulates a reflex that increases the secretion of nasal mucus.”

But the best remedy for nasal congestion is to add a few crushed cloves of garlic to chicken soup. When you start eating this decoction, you immediately feel relief. Doctors say that you should add as much garlic as your neighbors, friends and relatives can tolerate.

Source: http://feoz.ru/golov/hrap.htm

Snoring: causes and treatments

According to statistics, snoring occurs in every fourth adult man. This problem becomes more pronounced in older people. Thus, 60% of men over sixty years old snore. But snoring occurs not only in men, but also in women. This unpleasant phenomenon can become a real problem in family life, because spouses who are in the same bed with a snoring person simply cannot get enough sleep. In addition, snoring can be a symptom of such a threatening condition as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Causes of snoring

Snoring is a low-frequency sound that occurs during breathing during sleep. It occurs due to relaxation of the muscles of the pharynx and soft palate. Because of this, the inhaled air flow is not able to fully pass through the upper respiratory tract. This is how snoring occurs.

The following are the causes of snoring:
  1. Congenital features - elongated uvula, large tongue;
  2. Deviation of the nasal septum;
  3. Hypertrophied palatine tonsils (tonsillitis);
  4. Enlarged pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids);
  5. Nasal polyps;
  6. Rhinitis;
  7. Excess weight;
  8. Consumption of alcohol, sleeping pills and sedatives;
  9. Age-related changes in the nasopharynx.

Congenital features

Congenital features that can cause snoring include an elongated uvula, a long palate, and a large tongue.

The uvula is a protrusion of the soft palate that hangs over the entrance to the oropharynx. The elongated uvula and soft palate block the lumen of the pharynx. These congenital anatomical features prevent the passage of air through the upper respiratory tract, which is what causes snoring. Often this defect is accompanied by congenital weakness of the muscles of the soft palate. It is characteristic that in this case the relaxation and vibration of muscles during sleep is further aggravated.

Deviated nasal septum

This is a fairly common cause of snoring, occurring in all age groups. The nasal septum is a plate that divides the nasal cavity into two halves. Nasal injuries often lead to a deviated septum.

With a curved septum, the passage of air flow is difficult. In addition, this defect contributes to the occurrence of chronic rhinitis, which further complicates nasal breathing.

Hypertrophied palatine tonsils

The palatine tonsils often hypertrophy due to infection. Enlarged palatine tonsils block the lumen of the oropharynx. Air passing through the narrowed lumen of the oropharynx causes peculiar vibrations in the muscles of the pharynx and the appearance of snoring.

People with this disease experience difficulty breathing. When talking with such patients, attention is paid to heavy, rapid breathing and a slightly open mouth.

If a person has a large tongue, during sleep, when the muscles relax, the root of the tongue falls into the oropharynx, thereby blocking its lumen.

Adenoids

This is an enlargement of the pharyngeal tonsil, making nasal breathing difficult. The disease is provoked by infectious or allergic agents.

Children often suffer from adenoids.

With adenoids, the lymphoid tissue that makes up the pharyngeal tonsil grows and increases in volume, thereby blocking the lumen of the nasopharynx. Therefore, the air inhaled during sleep passes through with difficulty, thereby provoking oscillatory movements of the muscles of the soft palate and uvula. Relaxed throat muscles vibrate, which is what causes snoring. Adenoids are also accompanied by difficult, noisy nasal breathing and hearing impairment.

Nasal polyps

Polyps are growths of the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses. Polyps block the nasal passages, thereby preventing the passage of air.

It is worth noting that nasal polyps are a very common disease among the adult population. Symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately, but when the polyps reach large sizes. Patients with this disease complain not only of snoring, but also of difficulty in nasal breathing and nasal congestion. Against the background of impaired nasal breathing, an upper respiratory tract infection is often associated.

Rhinitis

Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Catarrhal rhinitis is caused by infectious agents. With catarrhal rhinitis, the nasal mucosa swells, the lumen of the nasal passages narrows. The presence of mucus in the nose further obstructs the movement of air through the nasal passages.

Vasomotor rhinitis is a manifestation of an allergic reaction. The nasal vessels dilate, mucus is released, and the nasal mucosa swells. All this leads to difficulty in nasal breathing and snoring.

Overweight

Overweight people snore about five times more often than people of normal weight. The reason for this is very simple: highly developed adipose tissue in the neck area compresses the upper respiratory tract. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome often develops against the background of obesity.

There is a very interesting feature : the presence of snoring and obstructive apnea syndrome leads to the progression of obesity! This is explained by the fact that when there is insufficient oxygen supply to the body during snoring, metabolism slows down.

Alcohol and drug use

It is known that during sleep the muscles relax, the same applies to the muscles of the pharynx and soft palate. Alcohol and sedative drugs lead to even greater relaxation of the muscles, including the respiratory tract. This is why drunk people snore so loudly.

The recommendation is simple: give up this bad habit altogether or drink a moderate amount of alcohol a couple of hours before bedtime.

Age-related changes in the nasopharynx

With age, the tone of the muscles of the pharynx decreases, and to this must be added the presence of chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract. Due to decreased muscle tone, when an elderly person assumes a horizontal position, the muscles of the pharynx sag. When air passes through the upper respiratory tract, it causes vibrations of the soft palate and uvula.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is when breathing stops for more than ten seconds during sleep. There are three types of sleep apnea:

  • Central - provoked by a violation of the respiratory center of the central nervous system;
  • Obstructive - caused by narrowing of the upper respiratory tract;
  • Mixed - includes components of both central and obstructive apnea.

Obstructive respiratory arrest can be caused by adenoid-tonsillar hypertrophy, congenital pathology of the uvula and soft palate, and blockage of the larynx with mucus draining from the nose.

As you know, in the deep phase of sleep, the muscles of the body, including the upper respiratory tract, relax. Add to this the obstruction of the upper respiratory tract due to the conditions described above. The result is collapse of the upper respiratory tract and obstruction of air flow.

Because of this, breathing stops during sleep from a few seconds to a minute. The longer you hold your breath, the worse it is, because oxygen does not fully reach the organs. At a certain stage, a person awakens or enters the superficial phase of sleep, during which snoring occurs.

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are:

  1. Daytime sleepiness;
  2. Fatigue;
  3. Increased blood pressure.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome primarily increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, sleep apnea can even lead to death caused by cardiac arrhythmias.

Please note: although snoring is an indicator of difficulty breathing, not all snorers have obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatment of snoring

Snoring is not a life sentence. To combat this problem, it is enough to consult a doctor to identify the cause of snoring. In general, conservative, surgical, and folk treatments are used in the fight against snoring.

How to get rid of snoring at home

People often snore when they sleep on their back because in this position, the relaxed muscles of the soft palate collapse and block the lumen of the pharynx. This obstructs the passage of air through the upper respiratory tract and causes snoring.

It is enough for a person to turn over on his side to stop snoring. To do this, a pocket is sewn onto the back of the pajamas, in which you need to put a tennis ball. So, turning on his back, a person feels discomfort and turns over on his side.

In addition, to avoid snoring, the head should be slightly elevated and tilted. Correct head position during sleep can be achieved using a special pillow.

If snoring is caused by inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract, then it is necessary to take measures aimed at clearing the respiratory tract of mucus. Such events include:

  • Nasal instillation;
  • Rinse the nasal cavity;
  • Carrying out inhalations.

For snoring, it is recommended to instill sea buckthorn or olive oil into the nasal passages. To do this, you need to pipette the oil and put two drops into your nostrils.

A saline solution is ideal for rinsing the nasal cavity. To do this, you need to dissolve a teaspoon of sea or table salt in a glass of warm boiled water. The solution must be taken into a syringe and injected into the nostrils one by one. The liquid must be spit out through the mouth.

To carry out inhalation, add a glass of herbal infusion to a bowl of hot water. To prepare the actual infusion, take one hundred grams of plants, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Eucalyptus, mint and thyme are used as raw materials. When everything is ready, you need to tilt your head over a bowl of water and inhale the steam through your nose and mouth alternately.

Conservative treatment

To combat snoring, medications such as Doctor Snoring, Asonor, Slipex can be used. All these products come in the form of sprays that need to be sprayed before bed. The mechanism of action of the drugs is to eliminate swelling of the nasal mucosa, as well as increase the tone of the muscles of the pharynx and soft palate.

If snoring is caused by an infectious process in the upper respiratory tract, the doctor prescribes antiseptic and antibacterial drugs to the patient. If snoring is caused by allergic rhinitis, you cannot do without antihistamines.

In addition, snoring is combated using special devices, such as:

The implant is inserted into the soft palate, having previously anesthetized this area. The inserted device strengthens the palate and prevents its vibration, thus stopping snoring. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis.

A mouthguard is a plastic device that holds the lower jaw in an extended position. As a result, the muscles of the soft palate and tongue are in good shape. The elasticity of the pharynx increases, which prevents it from collapsing. This way snoring no longer occurs.

For the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, the CPAP method has proven itself to be the best method. The procedure involves the use of a device (compressor) that maintains positive pressure in the airways. The compressor transfers air through a tube into a mask, which the person puts on before going to bed. Due to continuously maintained positive pressure, the upper airway does not collapse. The result is the absence of snoring and apnea.

Surgery

If a specific cause of snoring is identified, the doctor may recommend surgery. So, depending on the causes of snoring, the following operations can be performed:

  • Uvuloplasty;
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty;
  • Septicoplasty;
  • Tonsillectomy;
  • Adenoidectomy.

Uvuloplasty is a minimally invasive operation, the purpose of which is to shorten the long uvula. The operation is performed under local anesthesia using laser plastic surgery or cryoplasty. After exposure to a laser or liquid nitrogen, damage to the tissue of the tongue occurs with further healing and shortening of the length. After surgery, snoring disappears in 85-90% of patients.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is an operation that involves removing the tonsils along with the posterior edge of the soft palate, including the uvula. As a result, the oropharynx expands. Technically, this operation is not difficult, but the patient needs to remain in the hospital under observation for several days.

The method is very effective in combating snoring, but does not always eliminate sleep apnea. After surgery, approximately 90% of patients stop snoring. However, a pronounced decrease in the manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is observed only in half of the patients.

Septoplasty is aimed at correcting a deviated nasal septum. It can be performed both endoscopically and using laser technologies.

If snoring is caused by hypertrophied tonsils, a tonsillectomy is performed. Removal of palatine tonsils is carried out in different ways: classical, laser, ultrasound methods, as well as using cryodestruction.

For adenoids, an adenoidectomy is performed. Removal of the tonsil can be carried out with a scalpel or electrocoagulation.

Grigorova Valeria, medical observer

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Snoring: causes, treatment

The specific low-frequency vibrating sound produced by a person or animal when breathing during sleep is called snoring. The pathological process that causes snoring is caused by excessive relaxation of the muscles of the uvula, palatoglossus, soft palate, and other structures of the pharynx.

More than 30% of adults suffer from snoring, and in people over 60 years of age the frequency increases to 60–65%. This is a very common phenomenon, known to almost every person. More often, close people of the snorer suffer from snoring, in whom the process of falling asleep is disrupted and various neurological disorders develop. In rare cases, a sharp vibrating sound disturbs the person himself, and he wakes up from it. In addition to being a problem for others, snoring is dangerous for the snorer, since during sleep his body does not receive enough oxygen, as a result, all organs, especially the brain, experience hypoxia.

The appearance of loud sounds accompanying breathing during sleep is a harbinger of the development and the main symptom of a serious disease called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). This pathology is characterized by a sudden cessation of pulmonary ventilation during sleep. The duration of respiratory arrest ranges from 10 to 30 seconds, less often in severe cases up to 2–3 minutes. Sometimes such a syndrome leads to the death of a person.

Mechanism of snoring development

The pathogenesis is based on pathological relaxation of the muscles of the oropharynx - palatoglossus arches, uvula, soft palate - or obstruction of the airway due to some obstacle. The passing air stream, instead of passing directly into the lungs, swirls, causing vibration of the soft structures of the pharynx. This is accompanied by an unpleasant sharp rattling sound. Further changes in the walls of the respiratory tract lead to the development of OSA.

Causes of snoring

The following factors may impede airflow:

  • Thornwald's cyst;
  • swelling of the pharynx and tongue due to allergies - urticaria or Quincke's edema;
  • inflammation and swelling of the nasal mucosa during rhinitis, including allergic rhinitis;
  • nasal polyps;
  • hypertrophy of the tonsils with angina;
  • adenoids;
  • deviated nasal septum due to injury;
  • congenital anomalies of the upper respiratory tract:
  • underdevelopment of the upper or lower jaw;
  • narrowed lumen of the pharynx;
  • elongated uvula;
  • Macroglossia is an abnormally enlarged tongue.
  • malignant or benign neoplasms of the nasopharynx;
  • pathological displacement of the jaw due to injury;
  • deposition of fat in the walls of the pharynx, observed in obesity;
  • hypertrophy of the vocal cords, larynx, tongue with acromegaly;
  • enlarged tongue in Down syndrome.

Causes of hypotonia of the pharyngeal muscles:

  • consumption of alcohol and alcohol-containing drinks;
  • smoking;
  • addiction;
  • aging of the body;
  • taking certain medications;
  • muscle relaxants - medications that relieve muscle spasms;
  • tranquilizers – psychotropic drugs;
  • narcotic analgesics;
  • sleeping pills.
  • hypothyroidism, in which the muscles of the pharynx relax against the background of general muscle hypotonicity;
  • myasthenia gravis, myodystrophy, other neuromuscular diseases;
  • injury to peripheral nerves, for example during surgery;
  • diseases accompanied by damage to the cranial nerves and brain, for example hydrocephalus, stroke, cerebral edema.

Features of snoring

Rare, weak snoring during sleep is observed in almost everyone and is a normal variant that does not require treatment. As a rule, the snorer himself does not hear the sounds he makes. Snoring becomes a problem when it begins to disturb those around you, and subsequently the person snoring in his sleep. According to statistics, men suffer more often from snoring. Sometimes the vibrating sounds are so loud and annoying that they wake up not only the spouse sleeping next to him, but also the rest of the family members in the apartment.

My relatives begin to experience insomnia: they cannot sleep in the evening and at night, but in the morning and during the day I feel drowsy. The culprit of insomnia himself also complains of daytime sleepiness. If relatives do not sleep due to the sounds of snoring, then the snorer falls asleep normally, but, nevertheless, his body does not fully rest due to frequent awakenings of the brain necessary to resume breathing. This mechanism is characteristic of sleep apnea syndrome, which is a serious, life-threatening consequence of snoring.

Throughout the night, a snorer can experience up to 500 short-term pauses in breathing. The snoring suddenly stops, and the ensuing silence indicates the cessation of breathing. After a few seconds, the brain wakes up to command the muscles of the pharynx and pharynx to tense. A loud, jerky snore indicates resumption of breathing.

As a result, night sleep becomes shallow. During the day, fatigue, cephalgia, irritability, inability to concentrate on something, decreased performance, attention, and memory appear. There is an irresistible desire to sleep. Insufficient oxygen supply (chronic hypoxia) to the body can lead to arterial hypertension, stroke or heart attack, ischemia of the heart muscle, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Moreover, the snorer himself does not wake up during episodes of short-term cessation of breathing and does not suspect that he is developing sleep apnea syndrome. Close people who involuntarily witness respiratory arrests should be wary, inform the snorer about the problem, and convince him to see a doctor to determine and eliminate the cause of the pathology.

Diagnosis of snoring

To find out the factors that provoke snoring, you should contact an otolaryngologist, as well as a somnologist. Consultations and treatment with other specialists - a nutritionist, orthodontist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, neurologist - are not excluded.

Stages of complex diagnostics:

  • A conversation with a doctor , during which he collects and systematizes the patient’s complaints, asks about the characteristics of snoring, and conducts testing. Interviewing relatives is important to determine the frequency and approximate duration of respiratory arrests, if any.
  • A visual objective examination by an ENT doctor helps to identify a curvature of the nasal septum, swelling of the nasal mucosa, macroglossia, malocclusion, underdevelopment or abnormalities of the jaws, hypertrophy of the tonsils, the presence of adenoids or a tumor process, general obesity or fat deposition in the neck, and many other pathologies that contribute to the occurrence of snoring.
  • Functional tests to assess nasal breathing and mandibular movement.
  • Polysomnography is considered the “gold standard” in diagnosing sleep disorders. This is a comprehensive computer study of the patient during sleep. The person is connected to the devices, after which he falls asleep, and the computer records the parameters:

- movements of various parts of the abdominal wall and chest during breathing;

— saturation (saturation) of blood with oxygen;

- video recording of sleep with recording of limb movements and body position of the subject.

  • X-ray of the facial part of the skull . It is carried out to clarify the features of deformations of the nasal bones and jaws.
  • Computed tomography or nuclear magnetic resonance . If a tumor is suspected, to determine its exact location, size, structure.
  • Laboratory tests are necessary to identify inflammatory processes in the nose, pharynx, and pharynx. Clinical and biochemical blood tests, bacteriological analysis of a smear from the nose and throat, cytological and histological examination of a tumor biopsy are prescribed.

Treatment of snoring

Depending on the severity of snoring and its cause, the optimal method of eliminating the pathology is selected. Several treatment methods have been developed:

  • Intraoral mouthguard . A special device, inserted during sleep, which moves the lower jaw forward and fixes it in this position. The lumen of the pharynx increases, eliminating the contact of the walls with each other.
  • Breathe Right sticker . Stick on the wings of the nose before going to bed, widens the nasal passages, facilitating nasal breathing.
  • The “Extra-Lor” device is a design made of polymer material with a regulator. Indicated for the prevention and treatment of uncomplicated forms of snoring.
  • PAP therapy . It involves sleeping with a special compressor worn in the form of a mask, which by supplying air creates constant pressure in the respiratory tract, which causes the walls of the pharynx to straighten and prevent their collapse. There are several types of such treatment:
  1. CPAP therapy. Air is supplied constantly in one mode.
  2. autoCPAP therapy. The principle of operation is similar to the CPAP method, the only difference is that the device adapts to the exhalation and inhalation of a person.
  3. BIPAP therapy. Two-level mode of the device with a fixed air supply, focused on inhalation and exhalation.
  4. autoBIPAP therapy. Automatic mode in two levels.
  5. TriLeve therapy. Three-level mode.
  • Weight loss in obesity.
  • Cryoplasty and laser palate surgery . The principle of getting rid of snoring is a thermal or laser burn of the mucous membrane of the soft palate, provoking inflammation of this area. With tissue regeneration, the volume and density of the palate and uvula decreases. As a result, vibrational vibrations of the soft palate structures during sleep are significantly reduced.
  • Surgical removal of obstructions to the normal passage of air flow. Surgeries are performed to increase the lumen of the pharynx and restore nasal breathing. Adenoids and malignant tumors are surgically removed, the physiologically correct position of the nasal septum is restored, etc. In severe cases, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is performed with surgical removal of the tonsils, uvula and part of the soft palate.

Source: http://bezboleznej.ru/hrap