Causes of snoring in men during sleep

Snoring is not a very pleasant specific sound; approximately a third of the population of our planet suffers from this problem. This is most often encountered by older people, men who smoke, and those who are overweight. This phenomenon cannot be called normal; it is a sign of some disease, pathology or sleep apnea syndrome. There are various causes of snoring during sleep in men; in most cases, you can quickly get rid of this unpleasant problem.

Main reasons

Very often, the causes of snoring in men are associated with a decrease in the patency of the airways, or their curvature, which appears due to anatomical or functional changes. Such negative changes lead to the fact that the inhaled and exhaled air encounters obstacles, changes its direction, as a result of which turbulence is created. The unpleasant sound is often aggravated by vibrations of the soft palate and muscles that have lost tone.

Quite often, in addition to unpleasant sounds, severe snoring in men is accompanied by numerous short-term pauses in breathing. These stops occur due to negative changes in the structure of the respiratory tract, as well as due to sagging soft tissues. During sleep, there can be several hundred pauses in breathing, while the person will periodically wake up, feel attacks of suffocation, and in the morning there will be a feeling of fatigue, lethargy, and the quality of life will decrease.

Prevention of snoring

Don't know how to deal with snoring in men? Prevention will help!

Gymnastics for snoring is very effective; it helps strengthen the muscles of the respiratory tract. Three simple exercises should be performed in the morning and before going to bed at night:

Movement of the lower jaw back and forth - retraction and protrusion; repetition – 25-30 times;
Exercise for the tongue: maximum extension forward and return back (25-30 times);
Hold a medical spatula or spoon in your teeth and hold the object for a couple of minutes.

In addition, a simple method helps strengthen the muscles of the palate: sing the sound “I” several times every day for 2-3 minutes.

By the way, male musicians who play wind instruments do not snore! And all because their respiratory tract muscles are unusually strong.

What problems cause snoring?

This problem never occurs in a healthy person; usually, a snorer experiences one of the following conditions:

physiological disorders of the structure of the nasopharynx, for example, enlarged adenoids, a deviated nasal septum, enlarging polyps or tumors;
congenital disorders, for example, abnormal structure of the lower jaw, malocclusion;
hypothyroidism due to thyroid disease;
injuries to the spine and head, as a result of which the nerve endings were damaged;
impaired functionality of the pituitary gland;
acute or chronic inflammation, various diseases of the nasopharynx, due to which the nasal passages narrow, this may be rhinitis or sinusitis;
sleep apnea syndrome;
changes in the body that occur with age, as a result of which the elasticity and tone of the tissue of the nasopharynx and upper palate decreases.

Snoring may be caused by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. With a large intake of ethyl alcohol, this substance leads to intoxication, as well as sagging and excessive relaxation of the muscles and tissues of the palate, while the airways are partially blocked. In addition, there are other causes of snoring that are not related to diseases. There may be various predisposing factors that increase the likelihood of snoring. These factors are:

severe obesity. When fat deposits increase in the neck, larynx and palate, the airways narrow, causing unpleasant sounds during sleep;
smoking. When a person smokes for a long period of time, the mucous membranes of the larynx become inflamed and irritated;
chronic alcoholism;
age-related changes after 40-50 years;
swelling of the larynx due to an allergic reaction to pets, synthetic bedding, perfumes or laundry detergent;
insufficient time allocated for night sleep;
chronic physical fatigue.

Dangers

Many people think that this problem, although unpleasant, does not pose a threat to health and life. However, it leads to breathing problems during sleep. At first, the snorer feels chronic fatigue, lethargy, and lack of sleep during the daytime; he begins to breathe through his mouth, his voice timbre changes, and there is often pain in the ears. When the brain wakes up several times during the night, it does not have time to go through all the necessary phases of sleep, which is why the brain and internal organs do not have the opportunity to rest normally.

The next, more dangerous threat is that a snoring person may not breathe for several seconds, half a minute, or even longer. With prolonged night-time breathing holds, the body experiences oxygen deficiency, as a result of which nerve cells and neurons are gradually destroyed and die, chronic migraine develops, in the morning there is no strength, one feels weak, lethargic, and mental capabilities decrease.

With frequent oxygen starvation, diseases of the heart and blood vessels begin to develop. Snoring in men increases the likelihood of myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease and increased blood pressure. Very often, blood pressure rises after a person wakes up, but after half an hour it can normalize.

If severe bouts of snoring are observed, then the person is at risk for coronary death syndrome. Such death occurs suddenly due to cardiac arrest, while the cardiovascular system may be completely healthy. Therefore, whatever the reason, treatment for snoring should be mandatory.

In addition to the fact that this problem threatens a person’s health and life, it also often causes a deterioration in relationships between loved ones. If the husband snores, then the wife has to fall asleep to these unpleasant sounds. It is quite natural that she will experience irritation and anger due to the fact that she cannot get enough sleep at night, so conflicts and strained relationships between family and friends arise in the family, often snorers are sent to sleep in another room, which negatively affects his mental health. state.

How does lifestyle and habits affect

Why else can a characteristic sound appear in a dream? A man's lifestyle and bad habits can influence snoring. First of all, we are talking about addictions to drinking alcohol, smoking, and fatty foods.

Snoring is always accompanied by obesity. It has been noted that the amount of extra pounds is directly proportional to the intensity of snoring. Since fat in men often accumulates in the upper part of the body, it puts pressure on the neck and interferes with normal breathing. Lack of oxygen provokes a slowdown in metabolic processes.

Another factor is alcohol. After drinking alcohol, the muscles and ligaments of the neck relax, and the larynx ceases to be in good shape. With systematic alcohol consumption, the muscles become completely weakened, compressed so much that it interferes with breathing.

There is a close relationship between snoring and smoking. Tobacco smoke and nicotine present in it:

dry out the nasal mucosa;
provoke congestion;
make breathing difficult.

As a result, inflammation occurs in the pharynx and larynx, the respiratory lumen narrows, and the man begins to snore.

There are postures that cause snoring. If a man has the habit of sleeping on his back, his lower jaw constantly sinks. Ideally, it is better for the patient to sleep on his side, while the upper respiratory tract does not close, and the person does not snore when falling asleep. However, positioning on the side is categorically not recommended in the presence of atherosclerosis and osteochondrosis.

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A man who constantly snores will develop obstructive apnea syndrome after a few years. This means that breathing stops for a few seconds, then suddenly resumes. For apnea:

snoring becomes much louder;
respiratory arrests cause sudden changes in blood pressure;
a heart rhythm disturbance occurs.

Constant stoppages of breathing do not allow a full night's sleep, a man develops a depressive state, and sexual function is inhibited.

The syndrome causes arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, and chronic heart failure.

Treatment methods

Treatment for snoring in men depends on the cause of its occurrence. It is sometimes quite difficult to completely eliminate this problem, but if you make regular efforts, you can achieve significant improvements. Many people are interested in what to do for severe snoring in men? Nowadays, there are many different methods for treating this condition.

Diet. It is a fairly simple method on how to cure snoring in a man. It is necessary to limit yourself in nutrition for the following purposes:
reduce mucus production in the respiratory tract.

To lose excess body weight, you need to follow a diet so that during the day you consume about 100-200 fewer calories than you burn. It is advisable to eat small portions five times a day, due to which the metabolism will begin to occur faster. To reduce mucus secretion, you need to consume less foods rich in simple carbohydrates and fats. Nutritionists advise eating more fruits and vegetables, cereals, drinks rich in vitamins, and low-fat soups.

Special exercises are an effective treatment for snoring at home. Experts recommend performing the following two simple exercises, thanks to which you can significantly increase the tone of the muscles of the nasopharynx, as well as reduce their sagging:
- move air in the mouth. The snorer should puff out one cheek, then slowly move the air from it to the other cheek. This simple exercise must be repeated 30 times or more. It is important to perform it not only before bed, but also in the morning. To speed up treatment, you can also move the air several times throughout the day;

Both of these exercises at home will be effective only when the problem arises due to disruption and sagging of the tissues of the nasopharynx. However, if there are any pathologies and diseases, then exercises and diets will not give a positive result. If treatment for snoring at home does not help, then you need to go to the hospital for testing.

How to cure snoring in men

It is necessary to begin treating severe snoring in men by normalizing body weight. Sometimes it is excess weight that provokes snoring in your sleep. Fat deposits in the neck can lead not only to snoring, but also to apnea, which is dangerous not only for health, but also for human life.

There are a number of traditional treatment methods that can help you get rid of snoring in a short time. These methods include:

Surgical intervention.
Correction of soft tissues of the palate with laser.
Medicines – sprays, nasal drops and tablets.
Devices that are placed in the nose or mouth.
Physiotherapeutic procedures.

You can recover from advanced snoring, which is accompanied by cessation of breathing, with the help of CPAP therapy. This method is based on the fact that, using a special device, constant pressure is maintained in the man’s nasopharynx. If you regularly use such a device, you can forget about snoring forever.

If snoring does not always occur and it is not too severe, then you can use medications. Sleepex and Asonor sprays help a lot; they increase muscle tone. These medications should be taken shortly before going to bed.

Snorstop tablets are considered an effective remedy. But it is worth considering that the effect of such treatment is observed only while taking the drug; as soon as a person stops taking the pills, he begins to snore again.

Treatment of snoring at home is often supplemented with vasoconstrictor drugs. Such medications are necessary if snoring is caused by a stuffy nose. Before going to bed, you can drip your nose with Nazol, Naphthyzin or Otipax. But it must be remembered that such drugs can be used for no more than 5 days. If treatment is delayed, the runny nose and snoring will only get worse.

Snoring treatment should begin after a complete examination. To make a correct diagnosis, an examination by an otolaryngologist, therapist, cardiologist, somnologist and neurologist is necessary.

Medications

The causes and treatment of snoring are completely different; it is necessary to get rid of this problem only after identifying the root cause. You should not self-medicate at home; after examining the patient, it is necessary for a qualified doctor to prescribe drug therapy. How to treat snoring in men? The most commonly used drugs are:

"Asonor" are nasal drops that well moisturize the tissues of the nasopharynx and significantly increase muscle tone. This remedy should be used for treatment; before going to bed, instill 5 drops into both nostrils;
“Naphthyzin” is a nasal drop that quickly contracts the small blood vessels of the mucous surface of the nasopharynx, due to which the production of mucus is significantly reduced and the pharyngeal lumen is increased. You need to instill one or two drops into both nostrils up to 4 times a day;
Nasonex is a hormonal spray that reduces allergies and inflammation, and also reduces fluid levels. Usually a few drops are instilled twice a day;
Zyrtec is a drug that neutralizes allergy symptoms, reduces swelling and reduces mucus production. How to eliminate snoring during sleep in men using this remedy? Usually 10 drops are prescribed in both nostrils twice a day;
Various antibiotics are prescribed if there are infectious diseases, influenza and ARVI. Due to these diseases, the nasal passages and sinuses become blocked, so breathing is done through the mouth. The dosage and regimen of antibiotics should be prescribed only by the attending physician;
"Xenical" is a drug for weight loss. It is prescribed to treat snoring caused by obesity. This remedy reduces the absorption of fats by the body. One capsule of this drug should be taken with meals.

Unfortunately, every medication has side reactions and contraindications, so before buying this or that product, you must consult a doctor and carefully read the instructions.

Special exercises for snoring

You can achieve a reduction in snoring or even its complete disappearance not only with the help of sprays, tablets and devices, but also by training the smooth muscles and soft tissues of the nasopharynx with special exercises. How it's done?

Standard exercises include the following procedures:

Press the roof of your mouth with your tongue as hard as possible (while keeping your mouth closed). At the peak of the exercise, hold your tongue tense for two minutes, then relax. A total of 10-15 times in 2 approaches, 3 times a day;
Stick your tongue as far forward as possible , keeping it in the peak position and tilting it down a little, as if teasing someone. Hold this position for 3-0 seconds, then return your tongue to its original position. Perform the procedure 20 times in a row in one approach, 2 times a day;
Close your mouth, leaving only nasal breathing . Slowly move the root of the tongue deep into the throat, hold it in this position for 10-15 seconds, then return to the starting position in the same way. A total of 20-25 times 2 times a day;
Wrap your palms around your lower jaw, begin to move it first forward and then back, applying pressure with your hands that is directly opposite to the vector of force applied. Make 3 dozen of these paired movements, and then begin to rotate your jaw, first clockwise, and then counterclockwise - 30 times on each side. It is enough to perform 1 procedure per day.

Adaptations

To get rid of snoring, various devices are invented that fight not the cause, but the negative manifestations, that is, unpleasant sounds. Here is a list of the most common devices for snorers:

special pacifier - is a device that holds the tongue in the desired position so that it does not sink. This device is effective, but the person needs to get used to sleeping with a foreign object in the mouth;
a mouthpiece is a device that changes the position of the lower jaw, thereby increasing the diameter of the airways;
The bandage or belt is designed to support the lower jaw and prevent the mouth from opening. This bandage is contraindicated for nasal congestion.

There are other devices to eliminate the problem, but they must be used after a doctor’s prescription and the root cause of the problem has been established.

Causes of snoring

One of the main causes of snoring is a deviated nasal septum. This problem is quite common and also provokes a chronic runny nose and allergic reactions. With such disorders, snoring will be a constant companion of a man.

A deviated nasal septum occurs as a result of injury or is a congenital defect. Moreover, a slight curvature is quite enough for a symptom to appear.

A man may snore due to the presence of nasal polyps and congestion. Difficulty breathing occurs after tumors grow on the mucous membranes, which over time block the airways.

At the initial stage of the pathology, polyps are small in size, and there may be no snoring. But as the disease progresses and the polyps grow, the patient will definitely snore. A similar picture is observed with nasal congestion.

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Another, no less important reason for snoring is the presence of adenoids and enlarged tonsils. Breathing difficulties are associated with frequent cases of:

colds;
flu;
tonsillitis.

A man not only snores in his sleep, but also has a slight nasal voice, and his breathing becomes harsh. Apnea associated with enlarged tonsils is considered the most dangerous; breathing stops for several minutes at once.

Adenoids should be understood as small growths on the tonsils; they can be congenital or acquired.

Breathing becomes significantly more difficult, snoring becomes excessively loud, and sleep is restless.

Traditional methods

There are several traditional methods for treating snoring:

eat one oven-baked carrot before breakfast, lunch and dinner;
before going to bed, drink a glass of cabbage juice with a small spoon of honey dissolved in it;
instill 1-2 drops of sea buckthorn oil into each nostril 3-4 hours before night rest. This oil makes breathing easier, kills pathogens in the respiratory tract, and eliminates inflammatory processes.

When is surgery necessary?

In some cases, only surgery can help a snorer. It is necessary if a person:

deviated nasal septum,
enlarged adenoids,
inflamed tonsils,
congenital defects of the nasopharynx,
irregular structure of the facial bones.

Not every case requires long-term hospitalization. For example, if the adenoids were removed, the patient may be discharged a few hours after the operation is completed. If plastic surgery of the nasal septum was performed, you will need to stay in the hospital for several weeks.