The agonizing noises some people make trying to breathe while asleep are not a laughing matter. When the interruptions begin to negatively impact personal relationships or work, an underlying physical condition may need correcting. A Chicago sleep medicine center helps people find lasting solutions for this disturbing pattern.
The gasping, ripping sounds vary individually, but are all caused by restricted air passages in the nose and throat. That occurs when a sleeping position blocks easy air flow, or when there is an excess of fatty tissue around the throat. The problem often increases with age as muscle tone diminishes and the throat narrows perceptively.
Fewer women than men battle this syndrome, and carrying excess weight in an out-of-shape body makes it more likely to happen. Certain medications and alcohol use are known to affect normal breathing patterns, and the hazards of smoking are well documented. Sinus or nasal problems also inhibit air intake, and can result in habitual mouth-breathing.
Because the problem is so widespread, new consumer products are regularly introduced that promise instant relief. While individual successes have been reported, oral prosthetic devices correct symptoms, but not underlying causes. Long-lasting solutions involve physical changes including weight loss, smoking cessation, and exercise.
Some sufferers advise wearing nasal strips at night, using a humidifier, trying different sleeping positions, or taking antihistamines. None of those remedies are much help fighting apnea, a condition that frequently interrupts sound sleep with sensations of suffocation. It can be an indicator of more serious physical issues.
For those who cannot find a working solution, a medical sleep center appointment may be the key. While surgery is still recommended to correct some problems, new techniques can shrink excess throat tissue with less trauma. Loud snoring can be marginally funny in a sit-com, but it is not humorous to those who must struggle with the problem every night.
The gasping, ripping sounds vary individually, but are all caused by restricted air passages in the nose and throat. That occurs when a sleeping position blocks easy air flow, or when there is an excess of fatty tissue around the throat. The problem often increases with age as muscle tone diminishes and the throat narrows perceptively.
Fewer women than men battle this syndrome, and carrying excess weight in an out-of-shape body makes it more likely to happen. Certain medications and alcohol use are known to affect normal breathing patterns, and the hazards of smoking are well documented. Sinus or nasal problems also inhibit air intake, and can result in habitual mouth-breathing.
Because the problem is so widespread, new consumer products are regularly introduced that promise instant relief. While individual successes have been reported, oral prosthetic devices correct symptoms, but not underlying causes. Long-lasting solutions involve physical changes including weight loss, smoking cessation, and exercise.
Some sufferers advise wearing nasal strips at night, using a humidifier, trying different sleeping positions, or taking antihistamines. None of those remedies are much help fighting apnea, a condition that frequently interrupts sound sleep with sensations of suffocation. It can be an indicator of more serious physical issues.
For those who cannot find a working solution, a medical sleep center appointment may be the key. While surgery is still recommended to correct some problems, new techniques can shrink excess throat tissue with less trauma. Loud snoring can be marginally funny in a sit-com, but it is not humorous to those who must struggle with the problem every night.
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Find details about the advantages you get when you consult a sleep doctor and more information about a reputable Chicago sleep medicine center at http://www.sleepmedcenter.com now.