Biological - NIH Office of Science Education - National Institutes of ...

Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Biological Rhythms
area where the throat joins the nasal passages. In that area, the
tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and the uvula, which is
the fleshy structure that dangles from the back of the palate into the
throat. Individuals with narrowed or partially blocked airways must
pull in air quickly, creating turbulence that makes the structure
vibrate, thus resulting in snoring.
Question 3. Is snoring a normal part of sleeping, or is it an indication
of a medical problem?
Since students know people who snore and don’t appear sick, they
might respond that snoring can be a normal part of sleeping. Even
though everyone seems to snore at least a little, it is not considered a
normal part of sleep; that is, it does not serve a function during
sleep. It may or may not be a symptom of a medical problem,
depending on its cause and severity.
Question 4. Is snoring associated with sleeping problems, that is, with
sleeping disorders?
Snoring is often associated with certain sleep disorders. Students
might be asked if there appears to be an association between the
incidence of snoring and some of the entries in the sleep diaries
(Lesson 1) such as total sleep time or number of awakenings at
night. At this point, the discussion should begin to focus on sleep
disorders.
Question 5. Are sleep disorders life threatening, or are they just
annoying?
Sleep disorders can be life threatening, as in the case of sleep apnea.
Even mild insomnia, if causing problem sleepiness, can contribute to
injury such as workplace accidents and auto crashes.
Figure 4.2. People being
treated for sleep apnea
sometimes wear a medical
mask that helps keep their
airways open.
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