A snoring doctor, often an otolaryngologist or ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist, focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions of the upper airway that disrupt sleep. These doctors identify issues that contribute to snoring, as they can distinguish between simple snoring and more complex sleep disorders. Here’s more information on snoring and how a snoring doctor can benefit you:
Why Are You Snoring?
Snoring occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe. When you drift into deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth, tongue, and throat relax, and if they relax enough, they partially block your airway and vibrate. Several anatomical and health-related factors contribute to airway obstruction during sleep. While occasional snoring may not be a cause for concern, persistent or severe snoring can indicate an underlying health issue that requires professional attention. You should visit a snoring doctor if your snoring is accompanied by symptoms like gasping or choking.
What Causes Snoring
Alcohol consumption may amplify snoring by relaxing the muscles in the nose and throat. Its relaxing effects make the airway more prone to collapsing, increasing the intensity of snoring. This relaxation contributes to louder snoring and may exacerbate conditions like sleep apnea, where airway obstruction disrupts normal breathing during sleep. Those with chronic nasal congestion or a deviated septum may have habitual snoring versus a sleeping disorder. The anatomy of your mouth plays a significant role, as your soft palate or throat tissues can also narrow your airway during sleep.
Who Is More Susceptible
While anyone can snore occasionally, certain demographics are statistically more likely to develop chronic snoring issues, such as:
- Men: Men are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea than women.
- Overweight Individuals: Being overweight increases the risk of tissue mass around the throat.
Snoring tends to worsen with age as muscle tone in the throat decreases, and it often runs in families, suggesting a genetic predisposition to certain throat structures.
What Are Some Snoring Symptoms?
Identifying the symptoms associated with snoring helps in determining whether your condition requires professional intervention. Excessive daytime sleepiness is a hallmark of snoring’s impact on sleep quality. Individuals may find themselves struggling to concentrate at work, falling asleep during quiet moments in the day, or feeling irritable and mentally foggy. This is not merely tiredness; it is a fundamental lack of restorative rest that impairs cognitive function and reaction times.
Restless Sleep
Frequent snoring often correlates with fragmented sleep patterns. The noise itself may wake the snorer, or the physical effort of breathing through a narrowed airway may pull the brain out of deep restorative sleep stages. You might not recall waking up, but these micro-arousals prevent you from settling into a solid rhythm of sleep, leading to a sensation of having “tossed and turned” all night.
Physical Symptoms
Snoring can manifest in distinct physical symptoms upon waking, and many individuals experience a sore throat or dry mouth in the morning from breathing through their mouth all night. Morning headaches are also common, often resulting from changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream during sleep. Some people may also experience chest pain at night or high blood pressure. Chest symptoms should be evaluated by a physician promptly.
What Can Help Your Snoring?
Treatment options vary depending on the severity and underlying cause of the snoring. Lifestyle changes are often the first line of defense; losing weight, avoiding alcohol near bedtime, and treating nasal congestion may reduce symptoms. Positional therapy, like sleeping on your side rather than your back, prevents the tongue from collapsing backward into the throat. For more persistent cases, oral appliances can adjust your jaw slightly to keep your airway open.
Pillar implants are a minimally invasive treatment option that reduces snoring and addresses mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These implants consist of small, polyester rods that are inserted into the soft palate using local anesthesia. The body’s natural tissue grows around the implants over time, stiffening the soft palate and reducing its ability to vibrate. By stabilizing this area, pillar implants improve airflow, but when structural abnormalities cause snoring, surgical options may become necessary.
Contact a Snoring Doctor Today
If snoring is affecting your quality of life, a sleep evaluation is an effective path forward. A snoring doctor can diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan suited to your specific anatomy. Do not let poor sleep compromise your health; schedule a consultation to explore your options for quieter, more restful sleep.
