Snoring is one of those problems obvious to everyone that lives with the snorer but to the person with the snoring problem. For the millions of people with sleep related breathing problems, even those with mild to moderate forms of the common condition called sleep apnea, may experience chronic snoring, frequent early morning headaches, and daytime fatigue.

Several new studies suggests that these people also are at increased risk for heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular events, just like those with more severe sleep related breathing problems.

Over the past 20 years, a growing number of studies has linked snoring to heart disease and stroke, said Robert W. Clark of the Regional Sleep Disorders Center at the Columbus (Ohio) Community Hospital. Just over half the studies looking for such a connection have found one. “We found that women who regularly snored and those who occasionally snored were 33% and 20% respectively more at risk of cardiovascular disease when compared to women who did not snore,” said Meir Stampfer, MD, DrPH of BWH. People suffering from coronary artery disease when blood oxygen is lowered by sleep-breathing disorders such as sleep apnea may be at greater risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death.

A new study that followed 71,779 women for 8 years as part of the nationwide Nurses’ Health Study suggests that snoring itself might be a risk factor for sleep-breathing problems including apnea; it may cause hypertension and coronary artery disease. Women who reported snoring regularly were more likely to sleep on their back, smoke cigarettes and use alcohol. They were slightly older, heavier, and less physically active and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol at baseline. Snoring doesn’t mean that a woman is going to get cardiovascular disease but it is a marker of higher risk,” said researcher Dr. Meir J. Stampfer of Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “If a woman snores, she and her physician should be more aggressive about reducing her other risk factors.”

Millions of people are believed to suffer from sleep apnea. Many more may have less severe breathing problems that go unrecognized and undiagnosed. The sleep disturbances are most common in men and in those who are overweight, but they can occur in anyone at any age. Long-term studies are important in proving that snoring is in fact a risk factor for hypertension and heart disease, says Regina P. Walker of the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. There are lifestyle changes and treatments that can make a difference,

view my other sites

Health and Fitness

 

 

Health Solutions is a Premier Site and an Online Health, Nutrition and Fitness Destination.

Tags: Sleeping disorders, Snoring

Share This

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Snoring is a common health condition and although it occurs more frequently in men and people who are overweight it can affect anyone at any age. It may be caused by multiple factors, including

* excessive and poor muscle tone of the throat tissues

* longer soft pallet and uvula

* blocked nasal passages and/or nose and

* nasal septum deformities

It has also a tendency to worsen with age.

Forty-five percent of adults snore occasionally, while 25% are considered habitual snorers. Those people suffering from occasional or mild snoring may be helped by self-help home treatment such as

* healthier lifestyle that includes exercise and a correct diet program

* loss of excess weight

* avoiding alcohol and certain medications such as tranquilizers

* avoiding heavy meals especially before bed time

* sleeping on your side rather than on your back and

* increasing the tilt of your bed head by 10 or 15cm

Heavy or chronic snoring may require medical care and it is best to take a multidisciplinary approach for the correct evaluation of your snoring problem. Treatment options have included everything from herbal remedies to dental devices to surgery. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea occurs when there’s a partial collapse of the airway and from vibrations, usually of the soft palate. However, there is great difference between the two: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is clearly a health condition correlated with medical illnesses, such as heart problems, strokes and an increased risk of sudden death, while snoring is not. Snoring is considered a social problem (although it may have significant partner-relationship consequences). It’s estimated that one in five Americans suffer from habitual snoring. A sleep test may be necessary to differentiate between the two.

A large number of procedures have undergone evaluation for the treatment of snoring, including Dental mouthpieces laser assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, radiofrequency treatment to the soft palate, injection snoreplasty palatal implants and more.

Dental mouthpieces or mandibular advancement splints (usually for mild sleep apnea problems) this procedure has been effective for many snorers. They are usually small plastic devices worn in the mouth during sleep to prevent the soft throat tissues from collapsing and obstructing the airway. The device brings your lower jaw forward and lifting your soft palate. Your dentist will usually fit these special appliances to meet your individual needs.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). A patient may be fitted with a nasal mask which forces air through the upper airway. The air pressure is adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the upper airway tissues from collapsing during sleep. The pressure is constant and continuous. This should help the person breathe better and sleep through the night. CPAP treatment has been found to be nearly 100 percent effective in eliminating sleep apnea and snoring when used correctly and will eliminate the necessity of a surgical procedure.

Injection snoreplasty. is a nonsurgical treatment for snoring that involves the injection of a hardening agent into the upper palate. Injection snoreplasty is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.

Laser surgery. It is an outpatient medical procedure for occasional or light snoring and it is called laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). Your doctor uses a small hand-held laser beam to shorten the soft palate and remove your uvula. Removing excess tissue enlarges your airway and reduces vibration. You may need up to six treatments to get snoring under control.

Palatal implants. This is the latest medical procedure of treating habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. PET implants (polyethylene terephthalate), is a procedure that introduces implants, made by a braided material, with a special needle into three points on the soft palate muscle - the center and one on each side to stiffen the tissues and reduce vibration. Scarring produced by the implants serves to stiffen further the palatial tissue. The procedure is a safe and effective method for treating habitual snoring.

Radio frequency tissue ablation (somnoplasty or RFTA). This is another type of surgery that doctors use with the help of a low-intensity radio frequency to remove part of the soft palate to reduce snoring. It’s an outpatient procedure performed using local anesthesia. It is performed to minimize the uvula.

Minimally invasive surgery. It may include operations on the nose, soft palate and uvula, tongue and neck. These operations are directed at the possible sites of obstruction in an effort to do the minimal surgery necessary to correct the sleep/snoring problem.

Genioglossus and hyoid advancement (GAHM). This is a surgical treatment for sleep apnea. In this procedure the genial tubercle, which serves as the anterior attachment of the tongue, and the hyoid bone are advanced following a limited mandibular osteotomy. The hyoid is fixed to the anterior margin of the mandible or, in a more recent modification, fixed to the thyroid cartilage which prevents the collapse of the lower throat by pulling the tongue forward.

Septoplasty and turbinate surgery: This is a surgical treatment to reduce the resistance to the flow of air through the nose. To r educes the size of the inferior turbinate and/or correct a deviated septum.

Tonsillectomy: a surgical procedure removing the tonsils and adenoids may be needed to prevent snoring, particularly in children. Enlarged tonsils are causing loud snoring, upper airway obstruction, and other sleep disorders.

visit my other sites

Health and Fitness

Mens

 

Health Solutions is a Premier Site and an Online Health, Nutrition and Fitness Destination.

Tags: Sleeping disorders, Snoring, Uncategorized

Share This

One of the most common sleep disorders is snoring. This seemingly harmless, involuntary vibratory noise is generated when the airflow from breathing has to force its way through a blocked or obstructed airway. Snoring is common to both man and women and in some cases can affect children.

One fundamental characteristic of most sleep disorders is the prevention of natural sleep cycle completion. Common symptoms of a variety of sleep disorders is daytime fatigue and excessive sleepiness

If you ever thought that snoring is just a harmless social embarrassing condition you may have to think again. Long term snoring can have serious consequences in terms of relationships with partners as well as creating dangerous health conditions for the snorer. The person who is sleeping next to a snorer has to deal with the terrible sounds and sleep deprivation each night and the snorer faces the serious risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke and/or diabetes.

One of the more concerning sleep disorders is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) a condition where a person stops breathing for anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute. This condition affects breathing during sleep, and can actually stop breathing altogether. When the survival reflex system eventually kicks in to restart the breathing, with a very long deep and noisy breath, the person begins to breathe normal for a short time to only repeat the same. During this period the levels of oxygen drop dangerously (hypoxia).

Addressing a sleep disorders is a very important step you must take if you are to experience a healthier and happier life. A beginning point in diagnosing the type of snoring disorder is an interview with your physician. He will give advice and make recommendations on snoring and prevention. He may recommend life changes and/or more specialized treatment. A full range of medical, dental, and surgical treatments for sleep disorders are available.

Diagnosis of sleep disorders is based on clinical acumen, scientific knowledge, and appropriately applied laboratory studies. Training for researchers in sleep disorders is rigorous and knowledge needed span many fields. The best way to diagnose snoring disorders is with a Sleep Study or Polysomnogram conducted at specialists sleep disorder laboratories. Another important investigational laboratory test for assessing sleep disorders is actigraphy.

In conclusion, snoring and lack of sleep due to sleep disorders can take a serious toll on people’s life. The most common snoring disorder is obstructive sleep apnea. The main diagnosis for snoring disorders is polysomnogram or sleep study a highly technical assessment of an overnight sleep test. Surveys have documented that physician training and knowledge about sleep and sleep disorders is minimal. That’s not surprising since the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders is a fairly recent medical development. Understanding sleep disorders is the first step.

visit my other sites

Health and Fitness

Health Solutions is a Premier Site and an Online Health, Nutrition and Fitness Destination.

Tags: Sleeping disorders, Snoring

Share This