When to see a doctor
by Admin
Posted on 18-07-2022 10:08 AM
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. These may indicate your snoring is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (osa). If your child snores, ask your pediatrician about it.
Children can have osa, too. Nose and throat problems — such as enlarged tonsils — and obesity often can narrow a child's airway, which can lead to your child developing osa. Snoring can be caused by a number of factors, such as the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, alcohol consumption, allergies, a cold, and your weight. When you doze off and progress from a light sleep to a deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat relax.
You may be able to reduce your snoring by making certain lifestyle changes. These include losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sedative medications at night, and always sleeping on your back. Since nasal congestion can cause breathing, treating this with decongestants or corticosteroid sprays may be effective if your doctor approves them. People who see their doctor about snoring may be evaluated for sleep apnea. The examination may include an examination of the nose and mouth to check for a physical obstruction, as well as other warning signs such as nasal polyps, a high or narrow arched palate, a displaced jaw, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
Many instances of snoring are benign, but it’s important to talk with a doctor if there are signs of potential sleep apnea: snoring that occurs three or more times per week very loud or bothersome snoring snoring with gasping, choking, or snorting sounds obesity or recent weight gain daytime drowsiness nighttime teeth grinding ( bruxism ) frequent nighttime urination ( nocturia ) if you have noticed any of these signs, it’s important to address the issue with a doctor who can determine if additional testing or treatment is necessary.
Snoring could indicate sleep apnea , a serious sleep disorder where your breathing is briefly interrupted many times each night. Normal snoring doesn’t interfere with the quality of your sleep as much as sleep apnea, so if you’re suffering from extreme fatigue and sleepiness during the day, it could be an indication of sleep apnea or another sleep-related breathing problem. Call your doctor if you or your sleep partner have noticed any of the following red flags: you snore loudly and heavily and are tired during the day. You stop breathing, gasp, or choke during sleep. You fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as during a conversation or a meal.
Things you can do to help you stop snoring
Lying on your back makes the base of your tongue and soft palate collapse to the back wall of your throat, causing a vibrating sound during sleep. Sleeping on your side may help prevent this. "a body pillow (a full-length pillow that supports your entire body) provides an easy fix," slaughter says. "it enables you to maintain sleeping on your side and can make a dramatic difference.
"taping tennis balls to the back of your pajamas can also stop you from sleeping on your back, chokroverty says. "or you can recline the bed with the head up and extended, which opens up nasal airway passages and may help prevent snoring.
Snoring happens when air can’t flow easily through the mouth or nose. When the air is forced through an obstructed area, soft tissues in the mouth, nose and throat bump into each other and vibrate. The vibrations make a rattling, snorting or grumbling sound. Snoring can interrupt sleep. Loud, long-term (chronic) snoring can be a sign of a serious disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. A wide range of surgical and nonsurgical treatments can stop or reduce snoring.