Snoring

Snoring is where you make a noticeable sound when you breathe in during sleep.

The sound is caused by soft tissue at the back of the mouth, nose or throat vibrating. The exact sound made will depend on the type of soft tissue that is vibrating.

For example, if the soft tissue at the back of your nose vibrates when you snore, it is likely you will produce a pinched nasal sound that is not particularly loud. Whereas if the tissues at the top of your mouth (the soft palate) and the back of your throat (the uvula) vibrate, you will produce a louder, more guttural (“throaty”) sound. In most cases, snoring is caused by a combination of areas that are vibrating or blocked.

People tend to snore most when they are in the deepest stages of sleep, around 90 minutes after falling asleep. Most people also tend to snore loudest when sleeping on their back (supine).

Grades:

Healthcare professionals use a grading system to assess the severity of a person’s snoring. There are three grades of snoring:

Grade one snoring, also known as simple snoring, is where a person snores infrequently and the sound they make is not particularly loud.

In grade one snoring, a person’s breathing is unaffected. This means they will not experience any significant health problems related to their symptoms. However, their snoring may cause problems or issues on a personal level if it is irritating or upsetting their partner.

Grade two snoring is where a person snores on a regular basis – more than three days a week. Some people with grade two snoring may experience mild to moderate breathing difficulties during sleep. The breathing difficulties can affect the quality of a person’s sleep, which can make them feel tired and sleepy during the day.

Grade three snoring is where a person snores every night, so loudly it can be heard outside their room. Many people with grade three snoring have a related condition called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This is where the airways become partially or totally blocked for about 10 seconds.

The lack of oxygen causes the person to come out of deep sleep and into a lighter state of sleep, or to wake up for a short period, in order to restore normal breathing.

Repeated episodes of snoring and waking can occur throughout the night leading to a person feeling very sleepy the following day. This may have an adverse impact on their day-to-day activities.

Consult a licensed health practitioner if you feel excessively tired during the day, as it may be caused by your snoring affecting your breathing while you sleep.

The most common sign of excessive tiredness is when you find yourself falling asleep during the day.

You should also seek advice if you suspect a lack of sleep is affecting your day-to-day activities and causing symptoms such as:

• poor memory and concentration
• headaches (particularly in the morning)
• irritability and a short temper
• anxiety
• depression
• lack of interest in sex

Also seek advice if your snoring is causing relationship problems with your partner, such as keeping them awake at night or waking them up.

Snoring in children should be investigated as it is often caused by an underlying problem with their airways, such as enlarged tonsils, which may require further investigation and treatment.