Snoring Treatment

What is Snoring?

Snoring is the production of noisy sounds during sleep due to obstruction in the airflow in the passages behind the mouth and nose.

The obstruction in these passages is caused by the soft tissues of the tongue, uvula, palate, and throat. These tissues vibrate and strike each other during breathing, resulting in snoring.

At least 45% of adults snore occasionally, and 25% snore continuously. Snoring can lead to chronic fatigue, a decline in quality of life, distraction, headaches, long-term obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and heart enlargement. It also causes problems in various areas, from family to social life.

Causes of Snoring

There are several causes of snoring:

Weak Musculature in the Tongue and Throat

When the muscles are too loose, the tongue may fall back and block the airway, or the throat muscles may be pulled sideways into the airway. While it is normal for the muscles to relax slightly during sleep, alcohol or sleeping pills can worsen this condition and turn it into a problem.

Excessively Large Throat Tissue

Snoring is common in children with large tonsils and adenoids. Overweight individuals may have an overly loose neck, which can narrow the airway. Cysts or tumors can also contribute to airway narrowing.

Long Soft Palate and/or Uvula

A long palate can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat. During deep sleep, the long soft palate or uvula acts like a valve, producing sound. 

Blocked Nose

If the nose is blocked, extra effort is required to breathe. This forceful breathing creates an exaggerated vacuum that pulls the soft tissues in the throat into the airway, leading to snoring.  Colds or sinus infections can also cause nasal congestion, resulting in snoring during these periods. Thus, snoring can be periodic. Additionally, deformities in the nose and nasal septum, such as deviation, can also cause snoring.

Snoring in children may be a sign of tonsil and adenoid issues. Children with chronic snoring should be examined by an ENT specialist.

Tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils) or adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids) can provide complete recovery.

Snoring Treatment

If snoring is not accompanied by respiratory problems, individuals can make lifestyle changes to eliminate the snoring issue. These include:

• Adopting a more active lifestyle,
• Avoiding excessive fatigue,
• Discontinuing alcohol use, or if it must be consumed, stopping it four hours before bedtime,
• Adjusting the bed so that the head is elevated,
• Preferring side sleeping over back sleeping.

If breathing interruptions occur during sleep with snoring, a sleep test is first performed in a sleep laboratory, followed by the determination of the appropriate treatment. Surgery may be necessary to expand the airway or reduce the narrowing factors.

The most common surgical method is UPPP (Uvulo-Palato-Farengo-Plasty) surgery. This procedure is performed to reduce excess soft tissues in the upper respiratory tract, especially in the uvula and soft palate, and to tighten the tissues.

Other methods, such as tongue suspension, radiofrequency techniques applied to the root of the tongue, and jaw surgeries, are becoming increasingly common. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device may be preferred for patients with severe apnea who cannot undergo surgery. A CPAP device is one of the best solutions for elderly patients or individuals with an apnea-hypopnea index above 30, regardless of age, as well as for patients with excessive daytime sleepiness, even if the index is low.