Frequent snoring while sleeping is really annoying
A person can snore while sleeping when there is an obstruction to the flow of air through the channels at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the part of the airway that is located close to the tongue and upper throat, where it meets the soft palate and uvula. Snoring occurs due to these structures clashing and vibrating when breathing. Snoring is often considered a social problem because it disturbs other people at night. It is also possible that someone who has this disorder has obstructive sleep apnea, which is a medical problem.
Apart from that, someone who often snores while sleeping also experiences several disorders, as follows:
1. Muscle Tone Problems in the Tongue and Throat
When muscles relax too much, which may be caused by alcohol or drowsiness-causing drugs, the tongue can fall back, blocking the airway. Apart from that, pulling the throat muscles from the side can also cause the same thing. This disturbance can also occur, even if a person is sleeping soundly.
2. Long, soft palate
A person who has a long palate can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat. When hanging, this part can act as a valve that works when breathing is relaxed. However, this disorder, also known as the uvula, can make the situation worse so that a person can sleep while snoring.
3. Blocked Nasal Tracts
A nose that is often blocked requires more effort to get air in. This also causes excessive emptiness in the throat. Because of this, someone with this problem can sleep while snoring. This usually occurs during a cold or sinus flare-up.
When the examination is carried out, the first thing to do is determine if the disorder is really caused by sleep apnea. This diagnosis can also detect if someone who snores while sleeping is experiencing it because of allergies to the nose, infection, deformities in the ENT pathway, or problems with the tonsils and adenoids.
If it is confirmed that the disorder is caused by sleep apnea, several treatments can be done to overcome it, namely:
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a surgical method used to treat obstructive sleep apnea, which causes snoring. This method is used to tighten the weak tissue in the throat and palate and widen the airways.
- Tongue base coblation or laser lingual tonsillectomy can also be performed to treat sleep apnea caused by excess tissue in the deeper areas of the throat.
In addition, if surgery is considered too risky, a person can use a nasal mask every night to circulate air pressure to the throat. This is also called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).