June 28, 2017
Snoring can be very frustrating! Have you heard the old joke: “laugh and whole world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone”? Snoring is only funny in jokes.
Snoring occurs when the muscles of the throat relax while sleeping, the tongue falls backwards, and the walls of the throat vibrate which creates the snoring sound. The greater the vibrations gets, the louder the snoring. Snoring can occur occasionally or every night.
Several factors can be a cause of snoring including alcohol consumption, sleep medications, muscle relaxers, allergies, and enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Sleep position be a factor as well? People who sleep on their backs are more likely to snore. Snoring can lead to poor sleep because back the tongue can falls backward and impede the breathing. When the breathing is affected there is an increased risk for heart disease. This is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
OSA requires medical diagnosis and intervention. Snoring alone can often be controlled with oral appliances. We can help with both at the Lima Oral Sleep Center.
If you or someone you love snores or is at risk for sleep apnea, please call us at 419-224-7667
Until next time,
Keep smiling, caring, and sharing!