Snoring Treatments
When you sleep, your muscles and tissues automatically relax. This is a vital part of the body’s recovery process–but did you know that it can also lead to snoring? When air attempts to move past the relaxed soft palate or other tissue in your nose and throat, the vibration may result in snorting, rattling noises.
Snoring can be a nuisance. It may impact your sleep or the sleep of your partner or other family members. However, it can also be an indicator–or even a cause–of several other health problems. That is why it is particularly important for individuals who snore on a regular basis to visit an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor.
If you are wondering how to stop snoring, call Sierra Nevada ENT and make an appointment today. Our trained physicians can help diagnose the underlying causes and recommend a snoring treatment plan.
Snoring affects 25 percent of Americans
Needless to say, you’re not alone in experiencing both the physical and psychological complications that can be associated with snoring.
If you are experiencing snoring, it may also be a sign of sleep apnea which is known to cause difficulty breathing during sleep, and can be associated with high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.
Find yourself searching for a “doctor for snoring treatment near me?” We’re more than happy to answer questions or schedule your first consultation centered around snoring and/or sleep apnea. Please feel free to call us at 775-883-7666.
What to know about sleep apnea and snoring
One of the most serious conditions associated with snoring is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that interrupts breathing during sleep. These interruptions can happen hundreds of times a night, with each event lasting from 10 to 60 seconds. When breathing is interrupted, the brain then automatically wakes the individual to ensure they are getting oxygen. Typically, this cycle occurs during “dream sleep,” meaning that the person suffering from sleep apnea does not realize that they are waking multiple times during the night.
If your snoring is caused by sleep apnea, it is particularly important to address and treat the underlying causes. In addition to impacting an individual’s alertness, function, response time and mood, research from the National Institutes of Health indicates that lack of sleep affects every tissue in the body, leading to increased risk of multiple health issues. In fact, sleep apnea is closely linked with diseases such as heart failure, stroke and diabetes.
Although snoring is a possible sign of sleep apnea, it doesn’t mean all snorers have apnea. Conversely, not all people who have sleep apnea snore. It depends on many factors, including which type of apnea you suffer from. That is why professional diagnosis is crucial. The sleep experts at Sierra Nevada ENT can help determine the underlying issues and develop a sleep apnea and snoring treatment plan appropriate to your specific health needs.
What types of snoring treatments are there?
Dependent on your symptoms and diagnosis, a specific snoring treatment may be recommended to you. Some of the most common types of snoring treatments include:
- Turbinate Reduction: This procedure is performed to correct the nasal obstruction by reducing the turbinate size (small bones in your nasal passageway) allowing for less airway resistance and better airflow.
- Septoplasty: A surgical procedure that straightens the bone and cartilage in the dividing space between your two nostrils, known as the septum. If you’re experiencing a crooked septum, it’s also known as a deviated septum.
- Somnoplasty: This is another type of surgical procedure for treating snoring and sleep apnea. Using radiofrequency energy (heat), it works by shrinking the tissue in the upper airway (uvula).
- Tonsil or Palate Surgery: Refers to the surgical removal of the tonsils or resculpting the palate. Typically these treatments are reserved for when other methods have proven ineffective.
How to Stop Snoring
Because there are a variety of underlying factors that may contribute to snoring, it is important to visit an ENT doctor to get a proper diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your needs.
When a patient comes to Sierra Nevada ENT to discuss their snoring, our doctors will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam. We often seek information from your partner or loved ones about the duration and severity of the snoring issue. We may request X-rays or an MRI to determine if there is a physical impediment to breathing. Occasionally, we will also suggest a sleep study–at home or in a sleep clinic–to monitor breathing and blood oxygen levels, heart rate, brain waves and movement during various sleep stages.
Based on our diagnosis, we will develop a patient-specific treatment plan. Snoring treatment may include lifestyle changes, medical intervention or a combination of the two. Sometimes, in addition to the common snoring treatments outlined in the previous section, it may be possible to reduce snoring by changing sleeping positions, using nasal strips, losing weight, reducing alcohol intake or switching medications. Consult with an expert at Sierra Nevada ENT today and learn how to stop snoring.
Our Ear, Nose & Throat Services
Each of our locations offers a full suite of clinical and surgical care ranging from evaluations to treatment of ENT conditions and procedures by our expertly trained surgeons.
- Sinus Treatments
- Head and Neck Treatments
- Facial Cosmetic Surgery
- Otology & Ear Surgery
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
- Voice and Throat Treatments
- Pediatric ENT Treatment
- And more
Request a Consultation
To book a consultation or to see if our team can help you find the best way to improve your ENT health condition, please call and schedule an appointment at one of our three locations. Same day appointments are available.
