YOUR BODY: DEALING WITH A SNORING PARTNER
Notes by Dr. Norman Blumenstock
Remember that a sleep test to rule obstructive sleep apnea either in or out should be done first to know what is being treated.
BY July 15, 2016
By DR. JENNIFER ASHTON, ABC News Senior Medical Contributor
Does your partner’s snoring keep you up all night? If so, you’re not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, snoring affects about 90 million adults.
Snoring can be more than just annoying noise — it can be associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a serious issue that may need to be addressed. If snoring is interrupted by pauses in breathing or a struggle to breathe, it could be a sign of OSA.
In general, snoring is caused when the back of the roof of the mouth — called the soft palette — flutters and hits the back of the throat.
To reduce the risk of snoring, avoid alcohol and sedating meds before bedtime, and treat allergies. If all else fails, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, dental devices and minor surgical procedures, which can be performed by an ear, nose and throat specialist, can help reduce snoring.
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