Snoring

What is snoring?

Snoring is caused by the vibration of soft tissues in the palate and pharynx. During sleep, the pharynx becomes narrower as the muscles in the walls of the pharynx relax, and the sound produced can be very loud. Conditions in the nose can also affect snoring. In some snorers, the pharynx becomes so narrow that breathing stops, known as obstructive sleep apnea.

Occurrence

  • Most men who snore
  • At the age of 30, the proportion is about 10 percent for men and 5 percent for women
  • By the age of 60, the proportion increases to about 60 percent of all men and 40 percent of all women

Common causes

  • Nose density
  • Sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)
  • Enlarged tonsils in children
  • Enlarged false tonsils in children (adenoids)
  • Other causes

Who can help you?

One of our ear, nose and throat specialists will be able to perform a satisfactory examination in order to make the correct diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment. We have standardized procedures as well as access to state-of-the-art equipment to ensure our patients receive a thorough and quick examination.

What is sleep apnea syndrome?

  • It is a condition in which the patient has breathing pauses of varying severity and duration throughout the night
  • The condition leads to a reduction in deep sleep and REM sleep and can, among other things, result in poor sleep quality and pronounced daytime fatigue
  • Untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke
  • Studies show that people with this syndrome have a seven-fold increased risk of getting into a car accident

Occurrence

  • The disease affects 4% of men and 2% of women in the 30-60 age group.
  • Less severe sleep apnea syndrome is thought to occur 4-5 times more frequently

Common causes

  • Overweight
    • Approximately 75% of people with sleep apnea are estimated to weigh more than what is considered normal
    • The fact that obese people are more likely to be affected by sleep apnea is probably related to the accumulation of fatty tissue under the tongue, on the roof of the mouth and in the throat, making it more difficult for air to pass through.
    • Another reason is that the stomach presses against the chest and respiratory organs
  • Anatomy
    • Nasal polyps, oblique nasal septum, large pharyngeal tonsils, overbite and recessed lower jaw are physical factors that can negatively affect airflow through the nose and throat. Some of these problems can sometimes be remedied with minor surgery
  • Heritage
    • Sleep apnea is more common among people who have parents with the same disease. The researchers believe that this is because genetic predispositions control the structure of the muscle fibers found in the pharynx. The appearance of the fibers can determine whether sleep apnea occurs. If sleep apnea is detected in the family, it may therefore be a good idea to pay extra attention to the other family members.
  • Gender
    • The fact that sleep apnea is more common among men is probably due to a different distribution of body fat and different hormones. Approximately 4% of all Norwegian men and 2% of all women aged 30-79 are considered to be affected by sleep apnea.
  • asthma
    • People with severe asthma, i.e. chronic inflammation of the trachea and pulmonary edema, are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. Conversely, treating sleep apnea can lead to an improvement for people where medical treatment has not helped keep their asthma under control
  • alcohol
    • Alcohol causes the muscles in the throat to relax. For a person with sleep apnea, alcohol can make breathing pauses longer and more intense. A person with sleep apnoea should therefore consider limiting their alcohol intake and avoiding alcohol altogether in the hours before bedtime.
  • Tobacco
    • Tobacco smoke irritates the mucous membranes in the nose and throat. The irritation causes the mucous membranes to swell. This makes it more difficult for air to pass through, increasing the risk of both snoring and apnoea. Long-term smokers can also develop pulmonary emphysema, which further impairs oxygen uptake. It is of the utmost importance to stop smoking if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Who can help you?

One of our ear, nose and throat specialists will be able to perform a satisfactory examination in order to make the correct diagnosis and start appropriate treatment.

We have standardized procedures as well as access to state-of-the-art equipment to ensure our patients are thoroughly and quickly assessed.

About sleep

Normal sleep consists of two different physiological parts REM and NREM. NREM is divided into four phases that describe how deeply you sleep.

During deep sleep, breathing is calm and even, the temperature in the body and in the brain drops, the brain’s blood circulation and glucose uptake are reduced and the brain’s electrical activity consists mostly of large, slow voltage fluctuations. The different sleep phases are not yet known in detail, but in recent years many theories have emerged about the importance of sleep. However, it is already clear that deep sleep has a physiologically important role in relation to metabolism. During REM sleep, things happen in the body in relation to learning, memory and creativity.

Falling asleep usually occurs within half an hour, and during the night you are awake for just under half an hour. After falling asleep, NREM becomes progressively deeper. After about 90 minutes, the deepest phase of sleep is reached, where you switch to REM sleep. In a healthy person, the sleep phases at night vary in a regular way until the last awakening. Deep sleep is concentrated in the early part of the night and REM sleep in the latter part of the night.

The importance of sleep

Sleep is very important for good health. All humans and animals need sleep. Anyone who has experienced a night of poor sleep knows how it can affect mood, concentration and performance the next day.

However, sleep needs vary from person to person. That’s why it’s important not to judge your own sleep based on how many hours you sleep. The quality of sleep, i.e. the amount of deep sleep, is just as important as the number of hours. As a general rule, if you’re rested during the day, you’ve had enough sleep. This applies regardless of the number of hours of night-time sleep. Some people can get by on less than six hours of sleep, while others need nine hours or more to function well the next day. Both can be seen as normal. It’s important to remember that people are different in many ways, both in terms of height, weight, appearance and also in terms of their need for sleep. If we look at the population as a whole, the average is around 7-7.5 hours of sleep, with the vast majority sleeping between 6 and 9 hours.

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