Snoring Causes Restless Nights? Experts Explain When to See a Doctor and Why You Should Never Ignore It

By Liam On Aug 4, 2024

It causes noise and often disrupts the sleep of both the snorer and his/her partner.

But persistent snoring isn’t just bad for relationships.

According to experts, ignoring snoring increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

That’s because sleep apnea can cause interruption of airflow, fragmented sleep and reduced oxygen levels in the blood, which puts a strain on the cardiovascular system, Mr Pavol Surda, consultant ENT and nose surgeon at London Bridge Hospital, told MailOnline.

And with an estimated 15 million snorers in the UK, around one in five people, this is no small problem, according to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association.

According to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association (BSSAA), there are approximately 15 million snorers in the UK, but around 30 million in the UK suffer from it.

What actually causes snoring?

The harsh sound of snoring occurs when your tongue, mouth, throat, or airways in your nose vibrate while you breathe. This happens when air can’t flow freely.

This is partly because these parts of the body relax and become narrower when you sleep.

While this restriction of breathing space isn’t a problem for most of us, snorers may have an additional obstruction somewhere between the Adam’s apple and the tip of the nose.

This blockage may consist of swollen tissue, congestion, or a deformity, BSSAA says.

According to the NHS, people who smoke, are overweight, drink too much alcohol or simply sleep on their back are more likely to snore.

WHAT IS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, blocking the airway.

This disrupts normal breathing, with symptoms including loud snoring, noisy and labored breathing, and repeated episodes of breathing being interrupted by gasping and snorting.

OSA affects between four and ten percent of people in the United Kingdom. In the US, about 22 million are affected.

During an attack, the lack of oxygen causes the patient’s brain to wake him from deep sleep, allowing his airways to open again.

These repeated interruptions of sleep can cause a person to become very tired without realizing what is happening.

Risks for OSA include:

Obesity – Excess body fat increases the size of the soft tissue in the neck
To be male
Be 40 years or older
To have a big neck
Excessive alcohol consumption
Going through menopause – hormonal changes cause the throat muscles to relax

Treatment consists of lifestyle changes, such as losing weight (if necessary) and avoiding alcohol.

In addition, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices prevent airway closure by continuously delivering pressurized air through a mask.

A mandibular advancement device (MAD) can also be used. This is a type of mouthguard that holds the jaw and tongue forward to increase the space at the back of the throat.

If OSA is left untreated, you are at greater risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and type 2 diabetes.

Source: NHS

However, there can also be more serious causes of snoring.

“While occasional snoring is generally not a cause for concern, persistent snoring may be an indication of underlying health problems that require attention,” Mr. Surda said.

Is it snoring or is it sleep apnea?

Symptoms of sleep apnea include waking up frequently during the night, feeling sleepy during the day, and having headaches in the morning.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing temporarily stops, causing you to snore very loudly.

Mr Surda said: ‘It is important to recognise the signs that indicate snoring requires specialist intervention.

‘Persistent loud snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness and morning headaches, chest pain and nasal congestion are warning signs that you should not ignore.’

There are two different types of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea (CSA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), he explains.

CSA is caused when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing during sleep, while OSA is caused by a blockage in the upper airway, Mr. Surda said.

More people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea than from central sleep apnea.

Similar to regular snoring, sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax too much, partially or completely blocking the airway.

However, this interruption of airflow can lead to fragmented sleep and lower blood oxygen levels, which puts a strain on the cardiovascular system.

If left untreated, it can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, Mr Surda said.

He said: ‘If you suspect you or a loved one has sleep apnea, it is critical to seek help from a sleep specialist.

Specialists can perform a thorough evaluation, often including a sleep study to check breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and other vital functions during sleep.

‘Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition and may include lifestyle changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliances, and in some cases, surgery.’

It can reduce the quality of your sleep…

We all want to sleep well, but if you share a bed with a snorer, chances are you won’t sleep well.

This reduction in sleep can have a range of consequences, from increased stress levels to high blood pressure and even a potentially increased risk of certain cancers, according to a 2017 study. judgement published in Nature and Science of Sleep.

If your snoring is affecting the amount of rest you or your partner get, it may be helpful to discuss your symptoms with a doctor.

According to the NHS, there are different ways to treat snoring, depending on the cause.

A CPAP (pictured) is a mask that gently pumps air into your mouth and nose while you sleep. It is designed to improve your breathing while you sleep by preventing your airways from becoming too narrow

If the problem is with the tongue partially blocking the back of your throat, a device worn in the mouth, called a mandibular advancement appliance, can correct this problem by moving your tongue forward.

Snoring can also be caused by your mouth falling open while you sleep. This can be helped by using a vestibular shield, a device that you put in your mouth while you sleep that forces you to breathe through your nose. A chin strap that keeps your mouth closed can also help.

If your snoring is caused by blocked and narrow airways, then wearing strips that keep your nose open while you sleep is another method to stop snoring.

Although sleep apnea can sometimes be treated with lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, and cutting back on alcohol, many people require a device called a CPAP machine.

A CPAP machine is a mask that gently pumps air into your mouth and nose while you sleep. It is designed to improve your breathing while you sleep by preventing your airways from becoming too narrow and, by extension, snoring.