Unraveling the Link Between Snoring and Serious Illnesses: Understanding the Risk of Sleep Apnea

Snoring presents challenges for both the individuals who snore and those around them. Snorers are at risk of developing various health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and brain disorders. Snoring occurs when airflow is restricted due to narrowing of the airway, leading to vibrations in the throat tissues like the soft palate and uvula, resulting in the characteristic snoring sound. While snoring can also affect children, the causes differ from those in adults. In children, snoring is often attributed to an abundance of tissue in the throat, and the narrowing of the airway can be triggered by various factors.

Causes of snoring:

1. Excessive tissue in the pharynx, such as enlarged tonsils.

2. Being overweight, leading to fat accumulation in the abdominal area and around the tissues in the throat.

3. Narrowing of the airway due to a small facial structure, which is more common in Asian populations.

4. Weak muscles, which can occur naturally with age or be influenced by neurological or brain diseases. Certain medications like sleeping pills and alcohol can also contribute to muscle relaxation.

5. Gender: Males tend to experience snoring more frequently than females, as female hormones contribute to muscle tone.

Characteristics of snoring:

Snoring is the production of noise during sleep. In normal sleep, there should be minimal or no snoring. If snoring is loud, it can be considered dangerous. Snoring severity can be categorized into three levels:

1. Level 1: General snoring that occurs infrequently and is not very loud. It typically doesn't affect breathing during sleep but may disturb the sleep partner.

2. Level 2: Frequent snoring that happens more than three days a week. This level of snoring can partially obstruct breathing during sleep, leading to daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

3. Level 3: Persistent and loud snoring daily. Snoring at this level often accompanies sleep apnea, where the airway is partially or completely blocked for approximately 10 seconds, resulting in insufficient oxygen supply to the brain. This can significantly impact daily life.

Treatment process:

1. CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machine: This treatment involves using an air compressor, known as a CPAP machine, to generate sufficient air pressure that opens the airway during inhalation and exhalation. The machine delivers the air into the respiratory tract through a mask worn over the nose or mouth.

2. Oral Appliance: Dental equipment, also called an Oral Appliance, can be used to hold the upper and lower jaws together and advance the lower jaw forward. This helps prevent the tongue and jaw from falling back due to gravity, thereby widening the upper airways while sleeping. Oral appliances are suitable for patients with normal snoring or intermittent sleep disorders, including both non-threatening snoring and dangerous snoring.

3. Surgery: Surgery is considered when other treatments or conventional methods have not been effective. It aims to expand the airway by using laser technology to reshape the soft palate, uvula, base of the tongue, and nasal mucosa to an appropriate size. This surgical procedure improves breathing and reduces snoring. After the surgery, patients can typically return home immediately, although they may experience some soreness for about a week.

         Snoring can cause various complications. When the airway closes or breathing is stopped during snoring, the oxygen levels in the body decrease, which can lead to oxygen deprivation. This may cause the brain to wake up and resume breathing, leading to fragmented sleep and causing various health problems such as stress, depression, and dementia. Additionally, decreased oxygen levels can put extra strain on the heart, causing it to work harder and potentially leading to high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, and other cardiovascular problems.

By Dr. Pongsakorn Tanayapong

Brain and Nervous System Specialist