The respiration process is governed by the respiratory center, which is part of the vegetative system located in the medulla. Breathing has two phases – inhalation and exhalation. When you inhale the air, the chest begins to rise as the lungs expand (that is, the ribs expand) and the diaphragm lowers. In addition, the pressure is reduced so that air from outside can be sucked in. On the other hand, when you breathe out, the diaphragm returns to its place, the lung capacity decreases, the pressure inside also increases, and the air escapes from the lungs. It’s worth noting that we don’t all breathe the same way.
- thoracic path – breathing takes place with a predominance of thoracic breathing, i.e. rising of the upper parts of the chest,
- abdominal track – breathing takes place mainly with the lower part of the chest,
- thoracic-abdominal track – otherwise known as full or diaphragmatic breathing, during which both the upper and lower parts of the chest participate. This way of breathing is considered the most beneficial, efficient and healthy, because it brings air to all corners of the lungs, thus enabling better oxygenation of the body.
We also snore due to respiratory system infections (e.g. colds, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis). In this case, after the ailments have healed, the snoring stops. Some sedatives, muscle relaxants and antidepressants can also cause snoring.
Snoring in a child
Snoring happens not only to adults, children can also snore for various reasons. The most common cause of snoring in children is the enlargement of the third tonsil due to frequent infections. If snoring due to an oversized almond is accompanied by sleep apnea, it is advisable to remove it. A child may also snore in case of an allergy, which is manifested by a runny nose and nasal congestion. As in adults, the cause of snoring in a child may be a curved septum of the nose or temporary nasal obstruction caused by e.g. sinusitis.
In the youngest children (up to the age of 1), snoring and wheezing may be due to the laxity of the cartilage in the larynx. It is worth consulting a doctor about every case of snoring in a child. The procedure depends on the cause of snoring (removal of the third tonsil, surgery of the nasal septum, effective treatment of allergies). Not only snoring, which leads to sleep apnea, but also the one that interferes with sleep quality and may slow down a child’s development, requires treatment.