Snoring pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pathophysiology
Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. The sound may be soft or loud and unpleasant. The structures are usually the uvula and soft palate. The irregular airflow is caused by a blockage, due to causes including:
- Throat weakness causing the throat to close during sleep
- Mispositioned jaw, often caused by tension in muscles
- Fat gathering in and around the throat
- Obstruction in the nasal passageway
Statistics on snoring are often contradictory, but at least 30% of adults and perhaps as many as 50% of people in some demographics snore.[1][2] One survey of 5713 Italian residents identified habitual snoring in 24% of men and 13.8% of women, rising to 60% of men and 40% of women aged 60 to 65 years; this suggests an increased susceptibility to snoring as age increases.[3]
Snoring is usually an involuntary act, but may also be produced voluntarily.
According to Dr. William C Dement, of the Stanford Sleep Center, anyone who snores and has daytime drowsiness should be evaluated for sleep disorders.
References
- ↑ "Prevalence of Snoring Statistics". The Vancouver Sleep & Breathing Centre.
- ↑ "New Vaccine Could Cure Snoring (statistics insert)". BBC News. 2001-09-19. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Some epidemiological data on snoring and cardiocirculatory disturbances". Lugaresi E., Cirignotta F., Coccoagna G. et al. (1980), Sleep 3, 221–224.