Snoring

Snoring is a breathing noise that occurs while someone is sleeping. The actual snoring sound is produced from the vibration of the soft palate, the tongue and the sides of the throat when air rushes against them. In recent years snoring has been acknowledged as a warning sign that normal breathing is not taking place. For the majority of adults snoring does not involve a serious medical disorder. However, snoring may be the first sign of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the soft tissue in a persons throat (soft palate, tongue and pharyngeal walls) repeatedly collapses and blocks the airway during sleep. These partial reductions and complete pauses in breathing typically last 10 to 30 seconds but can persist for one minute or longer. These pauses can happen hundreds of times per night leading to abrupt reductions in blood oxygen levels. The brain alerts the body to its lack of oxygen, causing a brief arousal from sleep that restores normal breathing. The result is a fragmented quality of sleep that often leads to excessive daytime sleepiness. Most people with OSA snore loudly and frequently with periods of silence when airflow is reduced or blocked. They then make choking, snorting or gasping sounds when their airway reopens.