Does the man in your life startle you with his best chainsaw impression while he sleeps? Men are twice as likely to snore than women and it’s more than just an annoying habit. People who snore can suffer serious health consequences when making all that racket.

Our expert, Dr. Joshua Dunklebarger, WellSpan ear, nose and throat surgeon, has some tips on solving the problem so everyone can get a better night’s sleep and live a healthier life.

“Frequent and loud snoring can have many serious health implications like increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, mental health issues and more,” Dr. Dunklebarger said. “But there are steps you can take to limit snoring when it’s a cause for concern.”

Basics of snoring

When sleeping, the muscles in the upper airway relax.  The surrounding soft tissue then narrows the airway and in cases completely obstructs breathing. When air passes, it makes the tissue vibrate, which produces the sound of snoring. The vibrations occur due to relaxed throat muscles, narrowing of the airway and potential conditions like sleep apnea.

Sleep positions play a role in impacting your snoring. Back is not best in this case. Sleeping on your back is considered the worst position for snoring due to gravity pulling your tongue and throat tissues back, which collapses the airway. In contrast, sleeping on your side is more beneficial keeping your airway open. Side sleeping is sometimes a simple solution to reduce snoring.

Other factors that can contribute to snoring are:

• Anatomy and larger tongues
• Excessive weight
• Hormonal changes
• Alcohol consumption

Health risks of snoring

Occasional snoring is harmless, however, when it becomes disruptive and occurs more frequently it can be a sign of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where a person’s breathing stops and starts during sleep. These breathing interruptions can last for a few seconds to over a minute and often occur many times per hour.

When snoring becomes part of your nightly routine your risk of health issues could include:

• Decreased blood oxygen levels
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Diabetes

It is important to see a health care provider if snoring is disrupting your sleep, or you’re experiencing fatigue, headaches or gasping for air. Often your sleeping partner may notice the problem and even have fled a shared bedroom.

Treatments

For some, simple lifestyle changes can help put a halt to snoring. Avoid alcoholic beverages before bedtime. Ask your provider about ways to relieve nasal congestion to clear the airways. Stay active and get plenty of exercise to maintain a healthy weight. Elevate your head and sleep on your side to improve airflow.

“When these simple treatments don’t address your snoring habits, an additional surgical device is an option – the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation,” Dr. Dunklebarger said.

The Inspire device is for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea who don’t benefit from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. It’s a surgical implant that keeps the airway open during sleep while stimulating a nerve under your tongue to keep your tongue forward and your airway open.

“We’ve seen positive results in patients, including improvements in sleep quality and overall quality of life,” said Dunklebarger who was recently recognized as a Surgeon of Excellence by the Inspire company for positive patient outcomes.

Tired and can’t get a good night’s rest? Find our sleep treatment experts and programs here.