What is Snoring?
Snoring is a common condition that affects 45% of adults occasionally, with 25% of people suffering as habitual snorers. Snoring is the sound that is made during sleep that can be described as a snoring, rattling, or grumbling sound. This condition is a social disorder, though is associated with numerous medical conditions. Snoring can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life including sleep fitfulness, and may be very disruptive to bedroom partners.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring is typically caused by the vibration of tissue in the upper airway during sleep. During sleep, the tongue, throat musculature and soft palate relaxes, causing a vibration of these structures which results in snoring. Common areas and causes of upper airway obstruction causing snoring are:
- Nasal Cavity - deviated nasal septum, enlarged turbinates, septal swell bodies, and nasal valve collapse.
- Oral cavity- redundant soft palate tissue, elongated uvula, and enlarged tonsils.
- Oropharynx – Fatty and redundant tissue in the neck and throat which can also restrict the upper airway.
- Sleep Positioning - Sleeping on your back causes the tongue and soft palate to collapse and obstruct the airway.
- Alcohol and sleep aids - These agents interfere with the brain’s ability to regulate sleep patterns and causes relaxation of the throat’s musculature.
Diagnosis of Snoring
To diagnose and effectively treat your snoring condition the physicians will perform a complete ear, nose and throat examination which will likely include a fiberoptic exam (scope) of the upper airway. Depending on other medical problems and other sleep symptoms, we may recommend that you undergo a sleep study called a polysomnography.
Treatment of Snoring
Adults suffering from mild snoring should start with conservative management including:
- Lose weight. Adopt a healthy lifestyle to develop good muscle tone.
- Sleep on your side rather than your back.
- Establish regular sleep patterns.
- Avoid alcohol and heavy meals for at least 4 hours before going to sleep.
- Avoid sleep aids and tranquilizers before going to sleep.
In the event conservative treatment is not sufficient, our physicians will provide a tailored approach to each patent’s unique anatomy in order to achieve the best outcome. Many procedures that we employ involve minimally invasive office-based treatments to improve nasal breathing and to tighten the tissues in the back of your throat. These procedures are done under local anesthesia. We utilize state-of-the-art diode laser technology to improve the nasal airway and tighten the soft palate in the office setting. This allows for a faster recovery and patients can return to work sooner than traditional methods. If necessary, nasal or orpharyngeal surgeries such as septoplasty, uvulopalatoplasty and tonsillectomy can be performed.
Our practice offers comprehensive snoring care including lifestyle modification plans, medical management, in-office procedures, or surgery if necessary. For further information, or to book an appointment with one of our physicians CONTACT US at our Plantation (954-476-0400) or Coral Springs (954-796-0400) office.