Does uninterrupted sleep seem to be a dream for you?
Maybe because you are tired of your partner's loud snores at night.
The hoarse or harsh sound from the nose or the mouth while breathing when you sleep is called snoring. It happens due to obstructive breathing during sleep.
Snoring once in a while, when you are too exhausted, is not a problem. But if it becomes a nuisance for your partner, it is a matter of concern.
It happens more often in men and in those who are overweight. It doesn't only disturb your partner but also hurts your sleep quality.
Snoring seems to get worse with age. It may also be a symptom of some underlying health disorder, like obstructive sleep apnea.
It may happen, at times, that your breathing stops altogether during sleep. You might need medical help in order to get rid of such problems.
What Causes Snoring in Females? Well, the reasons may be similar to what causes snoring in males despite the fact that it is more common in men.
Complications Caused Due to Snoring
Habitual snoring may be more than just an annoyance and nuisance.
Aside from disrupting a bed partner's sleep, if snoring is associated with obstructive sleep apnea, you may be at high risk for other complications too.
Some complications of snoring include:
- Daytime sleepiness may result in frequent anger or frustration.
- Difficulty concentrating on any tasks or studies.
- A higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke, as well as heart conditions.
- An increased risk of behavioral problems, such as aggression, frustration, or learning problems, in children with OSA.
- An increased risk of accidents because of lack of sleep.
Causes of Snoring
Snoring can have reasons that are not because of some underlying diseases.
Following mentioned are some of the Reasons for Snoring in Females :
- Nasal Congestion
- Anatomic Variation of the Nose
- Soft Palate
- Alcohol Consumption
- Wrong Sleeping Position
- Sleep Deprivation
But it can also be an alert for you to get a medical checkup.
Causes of Snoring in Women may also be due to:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): a serious sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop multiple times during sleep.
- Sinusitis: a condition in which nasal passages get inflamed.
- Insomnia: a condition in which one has problems falling asleep.
Above mentioned reasons and Causes of Snoring in Females are common for males as well.
When to See a Doctor
Consult your doctor if you have any of the above complications. They may specify your snoring is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
If your child snores, consult their doctors ASAP. Children can have OSA, too. Nose and throat problems — such as enlarged tonsils — and obesity can often narrow a child's airway, which can lead your child to develop OSA.
Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose your condition, consulting your doctor as soon as possible is the best option.
He/she will then review your signs and symptoms as well as your medical history. He/she might also perform a physical examination.
Your doctor might even ask your partner some questions about when and how you snore to help assess the severity of the problem.
If your child snores, you'll be asked about the severity of your child's snoring for its diagnosis.
Moreover, treatment for snoring includes:
- Changes in lifestyle: You may have to lose weight because obesity is one of the major reasons behind snoring. You may have to quit smoking and drinking too.
- Surgery: Your doctor might resort to this method if he finds that your nasal passages are too inflamed. He might remove or shrink tissues in the throat or make your nasal palate softer.
- Detachable oral appliances: Wearing a small plastic device in your mouth may help you by keeping your nasal passages open. It keeps the airways open by separating the jaw and tongue.
- CRAP: It is a pressure machine that treats sleep apnea. It blows air continuously into your airways while you sleep.
Because snoring is nowadays a common problem, there are numerous products available in the market, such as nasal sprays or homeopathic therapies.
However, most of the products haven't been proved effective in clinical trials, but still, you can give these products a try once.
The Bottom Line
Snoring is usually not a serious health disorder and is quite common among both men and women.
It can also, sometimes, lead to embarrassment and can disrupt the sleep of the person's partner and other nearby people.
However, one can easily get rid of it through any of the ways mentioned above.
But if the situation doesn't get better and you start facing other problems along with snoring, it is advisable to see a doctor.