Snoring, the harsh sound that some us make inadvertently while sleeping, is indeed so common that we have all had the annoying experience of sharing a bed, room cabin or coupe with some one who has kept us awake and distressed, while he obliviously slept!
The horse sound of snoring occurs when relaxed tissues of the throat and tongue vibrate while air passes past them during breathing. Most snorers live otherwise normal lives and do not need medical attention. A distant uncle of mine who was the loudest and most notorious snorer amongst relatives, died at the ripe age of 98. And not due to any ailment related to his long track record of snoring!
The life-style changes that help reduce snoring, and that spouses should insist for snoring partners are to lose weight (snoring is more common in obese), avoid alcohol in the evenings and to sleep on the side.
Snoring is often however associated with a more sinister disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, commonly known by its acronym OSA. It is characterised by periods of loud snoring interspersed with periods of stealthy silence, when breathing stops, or almost stops, for some time. Sometimes, these silent periods during which the body’s oxygen levels dip and carbon dioxide levels build up, wakes the person up, often with a gasp.
OSA can be diagnosed easily by any of you, just by observing the snorer during sleep! They also might show some of the following features:
1. Excess daytime sleepiness
2. Morning headaches
3. Restless sleep
4. Poor attention span or concentration
5. Chest pain at night
The doctor may find it difficult to diagnose it in the wakeful state in the out-patient clinic during consultation, when an observant relative’s observations can go a long way.
OSA can be risky: apart from daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration, irritability and anger, it has been associated with increased risk of motor vehicle accidents as a sufferer is prone to fall asleep at the wheel.
Of graver concern is the increased risk of cardiac deaths in such people. The disturbed blood gases during sleep predispose them to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. It is not uncommon to hear such people having “died in sleep”.
Diagnosis is usually clinched by a test called poly-somnography, using a simple gadget that can often be hooked up at home during sleep time. OSA sufferers benefit by a home-based treatment device which provides Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) by a continuous mode, hence called CPAP.
Let us however not forget that losing weight, avoiding alcohol, getting the ear-nose throat checked by and ENT specialist, and lying on the side remain the cornerstones for good sleep.
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