Health warning for snorers
New research by Hungarian scientists suggests there is a strong link between loud snoring and both heart disease and strokes.
Snoring, the noise made by vibrations of the soft tissue at the back of the throat, is one of the most common sleep-related complaints and is a major cause of sleep disruption and stress. Over 40% of adults snore, some 14m sufferers in the UK alone. Snoring varies from occasional to constant and from mild to severe. A typical snorer usually produces a noise that averages around 60 decibels (about the level of normal speech) but with some people this can reach 80 or even 90 decibels!
The scientists concluded that heavy snorers were significantly more likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to the rest of the population. This new data adds weight to existing theories about the link between snoring and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
More than 12,000 people were interviewed in their homes and questioned about snoring. Compared to the rest of the population, loud snorers had a 34% increased risk of having a heart attack, and a 67% greater chance of suffering a stroke.
The researchers say that loud snoring with breathing pauses could be used to help identify people at risk from these diseases. The data highlighted the fact that people who snore quietly had no increase in their risk of cardiovascular illness.
Causes of Snoring
There are many factors that can cause snoring.
If you are overweight, you are more likely to snore. Extra fat deposited around the neck and throat can cause the surrounding tissues to sag, stopping the air flowing smoothly through them, causing the vibration. This is more of a problem for men, who are more likely to store extra fat around the neck.
Age can also be a factor. As you get older, your throat muscles become weaker. This makes them vibrate more easily when you sleep.
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs such as sleeping pills relaxes the muscles in your body. This means that the tissue in your throat, mouth and nose are more likely to stop air flowing smoothly through. It also makes them more likely to vibrate.
Sleeping on your back makes your tongue fall backwards towards your throat. This can narrow your airway and partly block the airflow.
Colds and allergies can also block the airflow through the nasal passage. This will also encourage you to breathe through your mouth, where there is more tissue that will vibrate. Smoking can also inflame (swell) and partially block the airways.
Other physical factors that can cause a blockage in the mouth and nose, and narrow your airway are:
- a low-set or thick soft palate,
- enlarged tonsils,
- a long uvula (the piece of skin that hangs between your tonsils) &
- a damaged or misshapen nose, which limits airflow.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for snoring. Most people try many different treatments to find the best for them.
As some causes of snoring are because of lifestyle, there are changes you can make to minimise snoring:
- Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
- Get regular exercise to strengthen muscles all over your body.
- Try to sleep on your side rather than your back.
- Avoid alcohol before going to bed.
- Quit or cut down on smoking.
You should also try to keep your nasal passages clear, so you breathe in through your nose rather than your mouth. Try rubbing a few drops of eucalyptus or olbas oil onto your pillowcase. If an allergy is blocking your nose, try antihistamine tablets or a nasal spray. Ask your pharmacist for advice and see your GP if you are affected long-term by an allergy or condition that affects your nose or breathing.
Other treatments you may also want to consider are nasal strips, which encourage you to breathe through your nose and devices that reposition the jaw. Your pharmacist will be able to tell you what is available.
If you find that these self-help treatments don't work, talk with your GP. They can find the actual cause of your snoring, and if necessary, refer you to other treatments or even surgery. However, surgery will only be considered if all over lifestyle changes have been unsuccessful. Surgery to correct snoring can include procedures to correct structural problems in the nose and the removal of excess tissue in the mouth and throat. Most surgery won't have any major side effects and you shouldn't need more than a few days to recover. However, some people may require several surgical procedures to stop or significantly reduce their snoring.
Some good news though - for men, it seems the tendency to snore declines once they get past the age of 70.
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