Snoring

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Snoring is a sound that is made by the movement of air over relaxed throat and tongue muscles. During sleep, the breathing muscles relax much more than when a person is awake. The throat and tongue muscles loosen and sag. This may partially block your windpipe. Most snoring is not dangerous. However, snoring in some people may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (AP-nee-ah) syndrome (SIN-drohm), or OSAS. Apnea is when a person stops breathing for ten or more seconds. A person has OSAS if he stops breathing five or more times in one hour. A person also has OSAS if he stops breathing 30 or more times during a six hour sleep period.
  
  
• Treatment for snoring may include losing weight and avoiding alcohol before bedtime. Special devices that you put in your mouth, called dental appliances (ah-PLEYE-an-ses), may help. If you have sleep apnea, you may need a special machine to help you breathe while sleeping. If your snoring is caused by a problem with your nose or throat, you may need surgery.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Most snoring is harmless. Some snoring can cause, or be caused by, other health problems. You can have high blood pressure if your snoring is due to sleep apnea syndrome. With time, sleep apnea can cause a stroke or heart and lung problems. Snoring at night can make you very tired during the day. Do not drive if you are tired. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your snoring or sleep apnea.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

Call button: You may use the call button when you need your caregiver. Pain, trouble breathing, or wanting to get out of bed are good reasons to call. The call button should always be close enough for you to reach it.

Tests: Tests may help caregivers find out what is causing your snoring and if it may be related to other medical problems. Other tests are used to help caregivers plan your treatment. You may need one or more of the following tests:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• Blood gases: This test is also called an arterial blood gas or ABG test. Blood is taken from an artery (blood vessel) in your wrist, arm, or groin. The groin is the area where your abdomen meets your upper leg. Your blood is tested for the amount of "gases" in it, such as oxygen, acids, and carbon dioxide.
  
  
• X-rays: Caregivers may take x-ray pictures of your head, neck, or chest. X-rays may help caregivers find certain problems that may be causing your snoring.
  
  
• Heart monitor: This is also called an ECG, electrocardiogram, or telemetry. Sticky pads are placed on your chest or different parts of your body. Each pad has a wire leading to a small portable box (telemetry unit), or to a TV-type screen. This lets caregivers see a tracing of the electrical activity of your heart. The heart monitor may help caregivers see problems with the way your heart is beating. Do not remove any wires or sticky pads without asking your caregiver first.
  
  
• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a machine that tells how much oxygen is in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your ear, finger, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Caregivers use this machine to see if you need more oxygen.
  
  
• Sleep studies: Sleep studies are also called polysomnography. Sleep studies can help caregivers see how your brain, heart, and breathing system are working during sleep. Sleep studies may monitor the stages of sleep, oxygen levels, body position, eye movement, and snoring during sleep.
  
  
• Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

Treatment:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): A CPAP machine is used to keep your airway open during sleep. With CPAP you wear a mask over your nose and mouth, or just your nose. The mask is held in place by soft elastic straps that go around your head. The mask is hooked up to the CPAP machine. The machine blows a gentle stream of air into the mask when you breathe. The stream of air helps to keep your airway open so you can breathe more regularly. Extra oxygen may be given to you through the machine also.
  
  
• Dental appliances: Caregivers may have you wear a dental appliance (ah-PLEYE-ans) in your mouth during sleep. It is like a mouthguard or a mouth retainer. The appliance helps to keep your airway open while you sleep. You will need to be fitted for your dental appliance by a dentist.
  
  
• Surgery: There are many kinds of surgeries and procedures to treat snoring that is caused by certain physical (body) problems. Caregivers will talk to you about which type of surgery or procedure may be best for you. Surgeries that may be done include nose or throat surgery.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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