Articles

Snoring

What is snoring and sleep apnea?

Snoring is caused by a partial closure of your airway during sleep due to a relaxation of the muscles in your neck.
The soft tissue then vibrates to cause the sound of snoring.
Snoring can happen to anyone of any age.
Snoring is also one symptom of a serious sleep disorder known as sleep apnea.

When a person has sleep apnea, his or her breathing is irregular during sleep. Typically, a person with sleep apnea will actually stop breathing for short amounts of time 30 to 300 times a night! It can be a big problem as the person doesn't get enough oxygen.

People with this disorder often wake up with bad headaches and feel exhausted all day long. They may be very drowsy and have difficulty staying awake while having a conversation or even while driving. Kids affected by sleep apnea may be irritable and have difficulty concentrating, particularly in school and with homework.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and not everyone with sleep apnea snores so the only way to know for sure is by having a sleep study. Dr Simeone works very closely with expert medical sleep specialists and can easily arrange for a painless, at home sleep study.

The causes

Physiology - the shape of the airway in some people makes snoring more likely

Being overweight - excess body fat increases the chances of snoring

Age - as we age weaker throat muscles increase the likelihood of snoring

Lifestyle - some people snore after drinking alcohol or taking sleeping tablets due to the extra relaxation caused in the neck and throat

The effect on your health and lifestyle

Daytime sleepiness
A lack of energy
Poor motivation
Accidents related to driving while tired
Higher stress levels due to fatigue
Less effectiveness at work
Reduced sex drive

What are the options for treatment?

Oral Appliance Therapy.

Expansion of the Dental arches. Special orthodontic appliances can be made which will enlarge the jaws which have the knock on effect of enlarging the airway making snoring or apneas less likely to happen.

Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) These are customized mouth pieces made for each patient to be worn at night time to treat snoring. There are various options available and Dr Simeone has special computerized equipment that helps to decide the best oral appliance for each person.

Losing weight

Loss of weight can reduce or stop snoring and there are numerous other health benefits but it is a gradual process.

Snoring surgery

There are a number of snoring surgery options but they are not always successful and can be extremely painful. We recommend this as the last-resort option to stop snoring.