What Causes Snoring in Men
May20th,2010What causes snoring in men ? Before reviews the snoring causes, we first introduct what is snoring ? Then we talk about what causes the snoring problems.
1. What is snoring?
Snoring is characterized by loud breathing sounds of the upper airway during sleep which is relevant to any disruption of breathing rhythm, or sleep quality (of their own, not the neighbors of the bed), one speaks of simple or primary snoring. Snoring with stopping breathing for more than ten seconds is referred to as apnoeic (wind) or obstructive sleep apnea.
Snoring as a noise phenomenon is relatively common. 60-80 percent of all men that more than 50 years snore . In terms of the total population of about 10 to 30 percent are affected. With 17-26 decibels (dB) keeps the volume in limits (equivalent to the hum of a refrigerator), from 40 dB is clearly disturbing and may reach peaks of up to 90 dB (the noise of a truck).
2. What causes snoring?
In sleep it is in everyone to a relaxation of the muscles of the nose and pharynx. Through a narrow gap in these upper airways – as they may arise as a crooked nasal septum or enlarged tonsils or throat – the flow rate of air is increased. This in turn lowers the pressure in the pharynx. The throat is a “muscular tube” of more than 20 pairs of muscles. The reduced air pressure and the muscles relaxed during sleep can lead to collapse of the hose.
In simple snoring, the air stream remains upright. The throat collapses and palate tissue is not complete, but vibrates because of the resulting turbulence. This creates the characteristic sound of snoring. In contrast, a sleep apnea arises at times of complete closure, so that there is a pause for breath. To prevent suffocation, the diminished supply of oxygen in the brain leads to an arousal (Arousal). This reaction is vital but causes a sleep disorder. The patient is often so tired and physically exhausted. On the day he shows strength, concentration and memory impairment decreased as well as increased irritability. In men often face an even impotence problems.
Thus it comes to snoring must meet a number of factors. So favored a threaded nose breathing – such as colds, allergies, sinus inflammation, nasal septal deformities, enlarged tonsils and palate often the case – the noisy sleep. The increased fat deposition in the throat and tongue area in overweight also causes constriction of the airways. These factors are additionally reinforced by sleep in the supine position, as it comes to this one to the back-fall of the tongue. In sleep allows the clamping force of all muscles. Thus, also relaxes the muscles of the upper air passages, whereby the vibration of the soft palate (soft palate and uvula) to trigger the characteristic noise is made possible.
Increased alcohol consumption or taking sleeping pills or drugs such as antihistamines (medicines used to treat allergies) intensify this effect yet. Other possible reasons are Okklusionsprobleme of the jaw (this is a mismatch between the upper and lower jaw), a significantly enlarged tongue or other anatomical changes that impede the flow of air.