Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is restricted during sleep, causing the relaxed tissues in the throat to vibrate noisily. This vibration typically involves the soft palate, uvula, and pharyngeal tissues, which temporarily narrow the airway. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is a common medical device used to treat a sleep breathing disorder often accompanied by chronic, loud snoring. The device delivers a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask to the user’s airway. The CPAP machine stops snoring by maintaining an open and stable airway throughout the night.
Understanding Snoring Related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The loud, chronic snoring addressed by CPAP machines is often a symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a medical condition characterized by the repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, leading to interruptions in breathing. This collapse occurs because the muscles supporting the soft tissues in the throat, such as the tongue and soft palate, relax excessively during deep sleep.
The partial blockage caused by this tissue relaxation creates turbulent airflow. As air attempts to squeeze past the narrowed passage, it causes the tissues to flap and vibrate, generating the sound of snoring. In OSA, this pattern involves loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing stops, often ending with a gasping sound as the brain wakes the person to resume breathing.
This severe, chronic snoring must be distinguished from simple or primary snoring, which is occasional and not associated with full airway collapse. The snoring linked to OSA is a direct manifestation of the closing of the pharyngeal airway. Therefore, the cessation of this type of snoring is an immediate indicator of successful OSA treatment.
How Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Eliminates Snoring
The CPAP machine resolves the physical cause of OSA-related snoring by preventing the collapse of the upper airway. The device delivers a continuous stream of filtered, pressurized air through a hose and mask system. This pressure is carefully calibrated to a specific level for each user, measured in centimeters of water pressure (cm H2O).
This steady flow of air acts as a “pneumatic splint,” a physical support system made of air pressure. The pressurized air gently pushes against the walls of the throat, holding the soft tissues away from the airway’s center. By mechanically maintaining an open passage, the CPAP machine stabilizes the pharyngeal structures, ensuring a clear path for air to flow.
When the airway is held open and stable, the soft palate and other tissues can no longer vibrate as air passes. This physical stabilization immediately eliminates the turbulent airflow that causes the snoring sound. The device resolves the underlying physical mechanism of tissue vibration, leading to a dramatic reduction, and often complete elimination, of chronic OSA-related snoring.
Other Causes of Snoring Not Addressed by CPAP
While the CPAP machine is highly effective against snoring caused by pharyngeal collapse, it may not address all types of snoring. Snoring can originate from factors other than the muscle relaxation characteristic of OSA. For example, temporary nasal congestion due to a cold, seasonal allergies, or a sinus infection can cause turbulent airflow high up in the nasal passages.
Anatomical issues within the nose, such as a deviated nasal septum or nasal polyps, can also physically narrow the airway. Since CPAP primarily targets collapse in the back of the throat, it may not resolve vibrations caused by a restriction located higher up in the nasal cavity. In these cases, the primary source of the noise is an obstruction that the pressurized air may struggle to overcome.
Snoring can also be temporarily worsened by lifestyle factors, including consuming alcohol or taking certain muscle-relaxing medications before bed. These substances cause a generalized relaxation of muscles that may not be fully mitigated by the machine’s pressure setting. If snoring is due to non-obstructive vibrations or nasal blockages, the CPAP machine’s effect on eliminating the noise may be limited.