The need for a CPAP machine usually stems from snoring, but what is it exactly that causes snoring? While snoring is a condition that many people like to make fun of, it has some serious implications that need to be taken into account, and today we’re going to look at some of the potential causes. Keep in mind that any of these could easily be reason enough to seek out a home sleep study.

It’s a Complicated Situation

There are several different factors, most of which are completely unrelated to each other. Keep in mind that when you doze off, you will progress from a light sleep to a deep sleep, and the muscles in your mouth will begin to relax. The problem with this is that the tissue in your throat may relax enough that they cause partial airway blockage and then vibrate, which results in typical snoring. The more narrowed your airway becomes, the more forced the airflow. Essentially, this means that your snoring will become louder.

Conditions that Cause Snoring

Let’s take a look at a few of the factors that will contribute to snoring:

Mouth Anatomy – The shape of a person’s mouth has a lot to do with their snoring habits. Generally, if the person has a low palate the will end up with a narrowed airway. Those who are overweight often have extra tissues at the back of their throat which serve to narrow the airways. It is important to remember that everyone is different and as such, may have a different mouth anatomy

Drinking – Sometimes, snoring can be the direct result of alcohol consumption, especially if you do too much of it right before bedtime. Alcohol will relax your throat muscles and decrease your body’s natural defenses against airway obstruction, so an individual that is already prone to airway collapse will need to be extra careful.

Pre-Existing Nasal Issues – A Person that already has issues with their nose will definitely snore. This often involves what is known as a deviated septum, which means a crooked partition.

Sleep Positions – During an in-home sleep study, the position in which you sleep will often be monitored because it can have a significant impact on your sleep apnea. For example, for some people, sleeping on their side reduces the risk of airway collapse and so on.

Risk Factors

There are multiple risk factors that can lead to sleep apnea, OSA in particular. Obviously, being a man is a serious problem, but so is being overweight, having a narrow airway, pre-existing nasal problems, and of course, having a family history of obstructive sleep apnea. Heredity is one of the biggest contributing factors, which can sometimes make it very easy for one to determine whether or not they have it. In other words, just ask family members if they have had a history of snoring and you might just have your ultimate answer.

Testing at Home

Using an at home sleep study is much more convenient for the patient as it allows them to get the results they need without inconveniencing themselves. For example, a typical sleep study would involve the person attending a sleep clinic overnight, which is a great idea unless they have a busy schedule. An at home test lets them do it from the comfort of their own home, and their own bed for that matter, which tends to give better and more accurate results than the alternative.

If a patient notices any of the symptoms that we mentioned above then they may benefit from at-home sleep testing as well as subsequent treatment with a CPAP machine.

VirtuOx is the leader in home sleep tests and pulse oximetry.