Healthy Executive

Snoring, often dismissed as an annoyance by bedmates, might be more than just an innocent nighttime symphony. In fact, those nocturnal reverberations could be a subtle clue to underlying health concerns that demand attention.

According to the Sleep Foundation, roughly 73 million men, over 52 million women, and 27% of children in the United States experience snoring. While the occasional snore can be benign, it's essential to distinguish when it might signal a deeper issue, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – a severe condition linked to heart problems.

Intriguingly, recent research presented at the 2023 European Respiratory Society International Congress unveiled that OSA patients, who diligently used a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine during sleep, saw their all-cause mortality risk decrease by an impressive 40%. Furthermore, their likelihood of succumbing to cardiovascular diseases diminished by 36%, and the odds of winding up in the hospital with heart-related troubles dropped by 18%.

So, the question remains – when should you be concerned about those nighttime rumbles, and what can you do to tackle them? Here's the inside scoop from two esteemed sleep specialists.

What's the Hubbub About?

The National Institute on Aging defines snoring as those peculiar sounds that arise during slumber when airflow is hindered by tissues in the upper airway colliding and vibrating. Several factors can lead to such airway blockages, including nasal congestion, smoking, alcohol and sedative use, genetic predisposition, and even gender.

Dr. Chris Winter, the author of "The Sleep Solution" and host of the "Sleep Unplugged" podcast, emphasizes that snoring risk is influenced by body type, body position (supine positions or lying on one's back increase snoring), and age. Snoring becomes more prevalent as age advances.

Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and the founder of the Sleep Doctor, adds that physical obstructions like oversized tonsils, a small mouth with a large tongue, or adenoids can obstruct airflow.

Should You Sound the Alarm?

The frequency and intensity of snoring determine whether it's a health hazard. Occasional, light snoring typically requires no medical intervention. However, persistent, thunderous snoring, occurring at least three times a week, accompanied by irregular breathing, choking, gasping for air, restless sleep, morning headaches, and daytime fatigue, may signify obstructive sleep apnea. This disorder results from recurrent upper airway blockages during sleep, leading to reduced or halted airflow, as per the National Institutes of Health.

Remarkably, despite approximately 30 million Americans grappling with OSA, only 6 million have received a formal diagnosis, according to the American Medical Association. Additionally, the American Heart Association warns that adults with OSA face elevated risks of high blood pressure, stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure.

Both sleep experts underline that not every snorer has OSA, but habitual and disruptive snoring, unrelated to OSA, could pave the way for other health complications.

Snoring, as Breus explains, falls under the category of sleep-disordered breathing, where lungs don't receive a full 100% of the required air, potentially leading to health issues over time. He further notes that snoring is associated with conditions like chronic congestion and GERD (acid reflux).

Winter emphasizes, "Beyond snoring being an indicator of sleep apnea, a condition fraught with significant health risks, emerging evidence suggests that snoring alone may correlate with adverse health outcomes, particularly cognitive issues and cardiac problems, such as high blood pressure."

Intriguingly, research from the University of Texas at Dallas highlights how snoring can disrupt processes affecting brain health. Likewise, researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital found that isolated snoring could trigger thickening or abnormalities in the carotid artery – a precursor to atherosclerosis, or artery hardening.

What's the Solution?

For those without OSA, Breus suggests adopting various lifestyle strategies to curb nighttime snoring. Firstly, ditch the back-sleeping habit. He recommends a clever trick: wearing a snug-fitting T-shirt with a small pocket on the back, then placing a tennis or baseball inside to prevent rolling onto your back.

Other natural remedies include elevating your head while sleeping, refraining from alcohol and sedatives before bedtime, quitting smoking, and managing your weight. Shedding a few pounds might reduce snoring for some individuals.

Over-the-counter anti-snoring devices like mouthpieces or mouth guards can serve as cost-effective solutions. These devices work by maintaining an open airway and repositioning the lower jaw or tongue during sleep to minimize snoring.

For those with sinus congestion, Breus advises consulting a physician before using nasal decongestants, as some may worsen nasal congestion over time.

However, individuals grappling with OSA should anticipate CPAP therapy, the most common treatment prescribed by doctors. CPAP machines regulate airflow to prevent airway blockage or collapse during sleep, effectively addressing both snoring and sleep apnea.

In Conclusion

Despite its ubiquity, snoring shouldn't be underestimated. As Breus aptly puts it, "Chronic snoring may disrupt your sleep quality and even affect your partner's rest. If snoring becomes problematic, seeking advice from a healthcare professional is advisable."

        Dr. Winter concurs, stating, "There's no reason why frequent snorers shouldn't consult a sleep specialist or their primary care physician. Home sleep studies are a straightforward way to pinpoint the issue promptly."

So, if you're seeking restful nights and a harmonious sleep environment, it's time to heed the warning signs that snoring may be signaling, and take action accordingly.

*Composed from different sources and altered so that it is more fascinating to perusers