Snoring is treatable

Snoring is caused by an obstruction in the airway. Air flow can be fully or partially blocked. This can be triggered by several different factors.

• Allergies: for some, snoring is seasonal and triggered by allergies. Allergies cause nasal congestion, resulting in snoring.
• Blocked nasal airway: when the nasal airway is blocked, breathing requires much greater effort. This pulls together soft tissue, resulting in snoring. Other conditions in the nose such as deviated septum and nasal polyps can also cause blockages.
• Large tonsils, palate or uvula: large tonsils, long palate (roof of the mouth) or large uvula (the hanging tissue at the back of the throat) can mean the nose and throat is partially obstructed. The vibration of this tissue results in the snoring sound.
• Weak throat and tongue muscles: the muscles in the throat and tongue can become overly relaxed. This causes them to fall back into the airway (particularly when lying on your back).
• Bulky throat tissue: in adults, the most common cause of bulky throat tissue is being overweight. You may also be genetically predisposed to weight gain in the throat area.

If your snoring became worse with weight gain, the most effective treatment could be weight loss. Even when the root cause is physiological, your chance of recovery improves markedly when you manage your weight. Even minor lifestyle adjustments can have noticeable effects. Depending on the results of the camera examination of your throat, there is a range of treatments for snoring.

Non-surgical snoring treatments

• Continuous airway pressure (CPAP) therapy: this treatment involves wearing a mask over your nose and mouth. The mask regulates upper airway pressures with the help of a bedside device as you sleep. This keeps the airway open. CPAP is more commonly used when you have an associated diagnosis of sleep apnea.
• Dental appliances: custom-made dental appliances, fitted by a specially trained dentist, are used to treat snoring triggered by sleep apnea. The mandibular advancement device (MAD) works by easing the lower jaw forward and keeping it in that position while you sleep.
• Positional therapy: this involves the patient wearing a device around their neck or chest that conditions them to sleep on their side.
• Allergy treatment: nasal steroids, sprays, and other allergy treatments alleviate snoring caused by allergies.

Surgical snoring treatments

If the cause of your snoring is physiological, we may recommend minor surgery. Surgeries to alleviate snoring include the following.

• Septoplasty, septorhinoplasty and turbinate reduction surgery: a procedure to straighten the nasal septum (the cartilage sitting between the nostrils) while also reducing small structures in the nasal passages. This surgery increases the flow of air through the nose. Establishing normal nasal breathing is the pivotal first step toward successful management of snoring.
• Removal of tonsils and adenoids: removal of excess tissue at the back of the throat that obstructs the airway. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are often used to treat snoring in children and adolescents.
• Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA): surgery performed on the jaw to move the upper and lower jaw forward. MMA is often performed in conjunction with genioglossus (tongue) advancement.
• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): a procedure that tightens excess tissue in the throat and palate. UPPP is used for patients suffering from severe sleep apnea.

Depending on the root cause of your snoring, a physician may recommend adjustments to your lifestyle. Recommended lifestyle changes that alleviate snoring include:

• Lose weight through dietary changes and regular exercise
• Reduce overall alcohol intake and avoid drinking four hours prior to bedtime
• Avoid taking sleeping pills and antihistamines
• Keep a regular sleeping pattern
• Avoid sleeping on your back
• Quit smoking
• Elevate the head of your bed by four inches