What Type of Snorer are You?
Establishing why you snore is fundamental to finding an effective solution. First step is keeping a "snore diary". To manage this process, we suggest enlisting the help of your partner, to observe patterns in your sleep. This will help pinpoint when you snore by monitoring how you are sleeping when the cacophony begins.
By observing what stops you from snoring, can provide clues as to why you snore. Often times, a change in sleep position, reduced levels of alcohol intake or a hot shower before bed, may all impact on how, when or if you actually snore.
These are some common types of snorer:
Mouth Shut Snorer
If you sleep with your mouth shut, but still snore, it could indicate a problem with your tongue and nasal passages and it may be a good idea to visit a doctor to see if there is swelling or congestion that could be causing the blockage in your airways which is causing you to snore. Often, a course of antihistamines or a medicated nasal spray can do the trick.
Mouth Wide Open Snorer
This is usually a result of some obstruction in the throat. If your throat is partially blocked, your body tries to force more air in, causing a vibration and the snoring sound. Enlarged tonsils can be the culprit here, so discuss it with your doctor. Sleeping deeply because of having a few drinks or a sleeping pill might be the cause here as they cause the muscles of the mouth and throat to become very relaxed and sink into the airway. If this is the case, you’ll need to cut down on the booze and avoid the medicine to see if it helps.
Back Snorer
When you sleep on your back, gravity can cause the soft palette, throat and tongue to sink into the airway causing an obstruction, which leads to snoring. An anti-snoring mouthpiece is a good option for this type of snorer. The mouthpiece gently moves the lower jaw forward by a few millimetres to allow for better flow of oxygen through the airways, thus preventing snoring.
Nose Snorer
Snoring can be caused by a number of factors, such as the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses. Many individuals who snore do so through their nose, suffer nasal problems, such as chronic nasal congestion or a crooked partition between your nostrils (deviated nasal septum), which may contribute to their snoring.
Snorer no matter what!
If you snore with your mouth open or closed and no matter what position you sleep in, it could indicate that you don’t ‘just’ snore, but in fact suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is a more serious condition that needs medical intervention. Sleep Apnea causes you to stop breathing altogether while you sleep, causing you to be deprived of oxygen. If this is the case, you are normally referred to a sleep clinic where your sleeping will be hooked up to machines which monitor body functions, such as: brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rhythm and oxygen saturation, to determine if you suffer from Sleep Apnea. The solution for this serious condition could be a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. This machine keeps the patient’s airway open during sleep by delivering a continuous flow of pressurized air into the throat. Another option is custom-made mouthpiece that shifts the lower jaw forward to open the airway, known as Oral Appliance Therapy.
Surgery is an option for patients who have tried these interventions with no success, especially those who suffer from a deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils, or a small lower jaw with an overbite, causing the throat to be too narrow. Surgical treatment aims at opening the airway and is individualised to address the anatomical areas which may be causing a blockage.
In Conclusion
No matter what type of snorer you are, it is essential that one recognises that snoring impacts the quality of your sleep, and therefore your physical and mental health. It is important to determine why you snore, enabling you to take steps to reduce your snoring, enabling you to enjoy better sleep as a result.