Here is the better health news on snoring

Has your partner suffered from sleepless nights because of your snoring? Has she given up and booted you to the sofa? If, so, take heart; even though the nighty buzz saw seems uncontrollable ,medical science has devised new ways to silence the din

Snoring is a disorder that affects millions of men and women(and their bleary eyed companions)the world over. For some of us, snoring is a mild habit, but for others ,it’s a disruptive racket that has serious effects on health and well-being.

The familiar sounds of snoring originate from vibrations in the tissues of the throat, especially the soft palate and uvula, which flap back and forth as we breathe during sleep. Snoring can be caused or aggravated by any condition that narrows throat passages, disturbing the air flow.

A congested nose due to allergies, polyps, sinus infections, swelling response to a cold or flu, deviation of the nasal septum, or alterations in the size or shape of the throat structures can cause snoring. Examples include enlarged tonsils, a long uvula, a swollen tongue, and excessive tissue in the folds or edges of the soft palate.

Although estimates vary, snoring is approximately 10 times more common among men, partly because men have a greater tendency to build up bulky throat tissue, which gets softer and more relaxed as they age .Men usually deposit fat around their shoulders, necks and abdomens because of the male hormone androgen, which stimulates appetite, weight and salt retention-all of which can aggravate snoring conditions.

Snoring, however, isn’t confined to the overweight, middle-aged man. Fit, athletic men may also be afflicted.

MORE THAN JUST NOISE

Snoring can signal potentially dangerous breathing problems when it is accompanied by sleep apnea, a condition that prevents normal breathing during sleep. Apnea, which means absence of breathing, is a disorder that affects as many as half of snorers, and is predominantly found in men.

SILENCING THE SNORE

With appropriate treatment, snorers can leave the spare room and be welcomed back into the bedroom. Snorers who aren’t afflicted with apnea may try various self-help approaches first, and if these don’t work, discuss other options, such as surgery with a physician.

Self-help remedies.(1)If you’reoverweight, weight loss combined with an exercise programme should be part of any snoring-cessation strategy.(2)Straightening out your neck can sometimes help. Do this by sleeping on a flat mattress without a pillow or by using a single low window.(3)If you snore only while lying on your back, try sleeping on your side. Pro pillows along each side of your body, or place tennis ball into a pocket sewn on the back of an old T-shirt. The discomfort should condition you to find a comfortable position on your side.(4) If your problem is nasal congestion, over the-counter decongestants or saline nasal sprays might help.

Devices. Similar to self-help remedies, anti-snore devices are designed largely to hold the snorer’s mouth closed, extend the neck, or keep the snore off his back. Although few of the devices do what they’re supposed to do, external nasal dilators are useful against nasal congestion. Fitting like a Band-Aid over the nose, they are safe, now available in India, and inexpensive. You may also want to consider a pair of earplugs- for your partner, of course.

Surgery. When conservative treatment of snoring or sleep apnea has been unsuccessful, the physician may recommend surgery. Such surgery, performed on the nose, would include the removal of polyps or the straightening of a deviated nasal septum. The doctor may also recommend surgeries such as a tonsillectomy or uvulopalato- phaxryngoplasty (UPPP).The latter procedure is designed to remove not only the tonsils but also excess tissue of the uvula and soft palate, at the same time tightening up the remaining tissues.