A leather mask that covers the mouth. A cannonball sewn into a soldier's uniform. and a machine that delivers sudden electrical pulses.
These ancient things were the cure for a problem that has plagued humanity for centuries: snoring.
It may seem harmless, but snoring can be a sign of something more serious.
So, what is the real cause of snoring?
And when does it become a problem?
The quality of snoring can range from a mild muffle to a stuttering chain—but all snoring originates in the airways, which are lined with soft tissue. During sleep, the muscles surrounding these tissues relax, narrowing the airway.
Many factors, including congestion, physical characteristics, and the position you sleep in, can further narrow the passageway and cause or aggravate snoring.
The narrower the airway,
the stronger the airflow, and the more those relaxed tissues vibrate, creating sound.
Most of us snore at some point in our lives. But loud, chronic snoring is a symptom of a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea.
It affects a quarter of all adults, but it's estimated that about 80% of people who are affected don't know they have it.
This is especially worrisome because it can lead to serious cardiovascular problems. Obstructive sleep apnea is usually caused by obstructions in the airway and is mainly caused by pauses in breathing during sleep.
Another type of sleep apnea is called central sleep apnea,
which occurs when the brain temporarily fails to regulate the body's breathing.
The condition is less common, and snoring is usually a less prominent feature—although you can have both.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may stop breathing for 10 or more seconds before waking up, sometimes without realizing it, to catch your breath. In doing so, you may sound snoring or choking.
This can happen up to five times an hour, although in severe cases, it can be more than 30. And that's a problem because your tissues are getting less oxygen. As you experience low oxygen levels, your body releases stress hormones.
And your blood vessels narrow to deliver oxygenated blood to your vital organs. This raises your blood pressure and puts extra strain on your heart.
And that's why obstructive sleep apnea can be linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
Difficulty breathing and poor quality rest can also lead to headaches, loss of concentration and chronic fatigue.
So what puts someone at risk for obstructive sleep apnea?
Features like large tongues, thick necks,
and small jaws can make people more sensitive. Older people are more at risk because, as we age, our soft tissues loosen, further narrowing our airways.
Drinking alcohol before bed causes excessive relaxation of our throat and jaw muscles.
And one of the major contributors to obstructive sleep apnea is weight gain because excess tissue around the neck can narrow the airway. Many researchers look at weight loss as a solution to sleep deprivation.
Certain behavioral changes, such as limiting alcohol consumption before bed, elevating your head, and avoiding sleeping on your back may also help.
For people with milder conditions,
mouth and throat exercises have been shown to improve obstructive sleep apnea in some early trials.
But this approach, and tools such as oral devices, may not always be sufficient. Sleep apnea can be reliably treated using CPAP machines, which keep the airway open by delivering a continuous flow of pressurized air.
Doctors usually aim to treat sleep apnea with such non-invasive treatments first, but if they don't work, they may consider surgery.
Snoring can be crazy. But severe ones are worth investigating with a doctor. After all, everyone needs a chance to catch their breath—and some...
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