Snoring & Sleep Apnea - What Can Be The Reasons Behind It?

Sleep apnea can be determined by checking on the number of times your breathing stops or becomes shallow while sleeping in an hour. Anything above 5 times an hour is considered to be abnormal, however if you experience the problem more than 30-40 times in an hour while sleeping, it indicates a severe condition of sleep apnea. This is called the obstructive sleep apnea which can cause multiple problems if not treated immediately.

Snoring is the sound caused by air passing through our nose and throat. When an obstruction is present in the nose and throat or the tissue of the throat is loose due to overweight and fat the sound becomes loud and excessive. Snoring is a symptom of a condition called Sleep Apnea. In this condition, our normal breathing stops during sleep due to obstruction in airways.

Weight reduction reduces the laxity of tissues in the throat and reduces chances of obstruction. Doctors often suggest using CPAP as continuous positive airway pressure uses a mask and a hose to deliver steady pressure to your body. However, if the obstruction is severe and long standing such as in case of large tonsils or severely crooked nasal bone a CPAP will not work and surgery is required to relieve obstruction.

Overgrowth of tonsils in the throat or adenoid tissue behind the nose causes obstruction and Sleep Apnea. Children who suffer from sleep apnea can also be obese or overweight. This problem occurs with obese or overweight children when the soft tissues in their throat and mouth cause a blockage in the airway while sleeping. Other factors which may cause sleep apnea are hypothyroidism, deviated nose septum and abnormal growth due to excessive production of acromegaly.