Snoring is very common, and up to 70% of the adult population may snore. Snoring can affect the quality and quantity of sleep, which can lead to daytime fatigue and increased health problems. Snoring can also get in the way of healthy relationship with a spouse or partner. Snoring can be an indication of sleep apnea, a chronic disorder that can be potentially life threatening if left untreated.
Allergies are a common cause and so many people have allergies these days, while some people have a snoring problem as a result of a blockage in their airway. You will need to work with your doctor to determine the cause before you can come up with a solution on what the best treatment will be, but you may be a candidate for snoring surgery. Some people opt for laser snoring surgery but this is only considered as an option for a last resort. The goal of the snoring surgery is to improve or hopefully eliminate altogether the sound of a person’s snoring at night.
Enlarged adenoids, cleft palate, narrow throat and few other physical attributes that contribute to the snoring can be hereditary. With the age, the throat becomes narrower, and muscle tone in the throat decreases. Losing weight is usually quite an effective cure for moderate snoring, and even the slight weight loss can reduce the fatty tissues in the back of throat, that helps to reduce snoring. Snoring can disrupt a good night sleep, and cause friction in healthy relationships with partner or spouse.
Elevating the head few inches with a stop snoring pillow while sleeping makes the breathing easier, and encourages the jaw and tongue to move forward. Similarly, using a stop snoring chin strap can be a very effective way to reduce or eliminate snoring. However, in order to be effective, a stop snoring chin strap must be worn every night, can cause excessive salivation, can cause or exacerbate temporomandibular joint problems and can be expensive. Stuffy nose creates the vacuum in the throat, and makes inhalation more difficult which can cause snoring, hence you can use nasal strips or decongestants to help you breathe easily while sleeping. If the home-remedies and efforts to reduce the snoring do not help, it becomes essential to consult an otolaryngologist.
Continuous positive airway pressure and dental appliances are alternative options that can help reduce or eliminate snoring. Certain surgery including Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy increase the size of the airway by surgically removing the excess tissue. Some surgery such as Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy increase the size of airways by removing the tissues or correcting abnormalities.
