SNORING – AN ALARMING INDICATOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISKA REVIEW

Abstract

Snoring has been a common habit of many of them irrespective of age, sex and may or may not depict a chronic problem. Snoring is caused by inadequate space for the tongue in the back of the throat and poor muscle tone in the muscles of tongue and throat, long soft palate and uvula. Snoring is a result of partial collapse of the upper respiratory tract during sleep causing a noisy breathing. Whatever be the cause of snoring, the type of sound varies and the effects are also comparable. Primary snoring is a loud inspiratory sound without episodes of apnea. This is caused by turbulence in the air flow causing narrowed nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal spacing. Another type is a habitual snore caused by upper airway obstruction with increased respiratory effort. These episodes may occur every night or once a week and irrespective of any body position. Snoring may often be associated with a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).The underlying mechanisms explained in this association between OSA and CAD are constant oxidative stress and sympathetic activation and changes in intra thoracic pressure, endothelial damage with activation of coagulation factors and platelets. Animal studies reported that IH mediated inflammation and damage is an important factor that mediates development of pre-atherosclerotic lesions. The most common and popular nonsurgical interventional therapy towards OSA is the mandibular repositioning device, tongue retaining devices and Continuous positive airways pressure and some surgical interventions are useful.