Snoring Treatment
Snoring can keep your partner awake, and it can also be a sign of a serious sleep disorder. At Sleep Health MD, our sleep specialists in Santa Cruz, Freedom, Sunnyvale, and Monterey find out why you snore and recommend treatment that brings quieter, healthier sleep to your whole household.
Request an AppointmentWhat Exactly Is Snoring?
Snoring is the harsh or hoarse sound produced when air flows past relaxed, partially obstructed tissues in the throat during sleep. The vibration of the soft palate, uvula, and tongue creates the familiar noise. Occasional light snoring is common, but loud, frequent snoring can disrupt sleep for everyone in the room and may point to an underlying health problem.
What Causes Snoring?
Many factors can cause or worsen snoring:
- Sleeping on your back
- Nasal congestion, allergies, or a deviated septum
- Enlarged tonsils, a long soft palate, or a large tongue
- Excess weight around the neck
- Alcohol or sedatives before bed
- Smoking
- Not getting enough sleep
- Obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome
When Snoring Is a Sign of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea makes the throat muscles relax and temporarily close off the airway, which often causes loud snoring followed by silence, then gasping or choking. Alcohol and sleep deprivation make those muscles relax even more. Snoring paired with any of the following deserves a medical evaluation:
- Observed pauses in breathing
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Morning headaches
- High blood pressure
How Is Snoring Diagnosed?
Snoring is usually first noticed by a bed partner or family member. To find the cause, your sleep specialist will review your symptoms and examine your nose, mouth, and throat. Depending on your snoring pattern and other symptoms, your provider may recommend a home or in-lab sleep study or imaging of the upper airway.
How Is Snoring Treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. Your provider may recommend:
- CPAP therapy when snoring is caused by sleep apnea
- Custom oral appliances that reposition the jaw
- Palatal implants or other procedures for specific anatomy
- Inspire therapy for qualifying patients with obstructive sleep apnea
- Surgical evaluation when anatomy is the primary cause
Lifestyle changes can also make a big difference, including losing weight, changing sleep positions, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and getting enough sleep.
Snoring in Children
Children who snore regularly should be evaluated, since snoring can be a sign of pediatric sleep apnea and may affect behavior and learning. Learn more about our pediatric sleep services, explore other conditions we treat, or prepare for your visit with our new patient information.
Snoring Treatment FAQs
Is snoring dangerous?
Occasional snoring is usually harmless, but loud, frequent snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
Why do I snore more after drinking alcohol?
Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, which makes the airway more likely to narrow and vibrate during sleep.
Do I need a sleep study for snoring?
If your snoring is accompanied by breathing pauses, gasping, or daytime fatigue, a sleep study is often recommended to check for sleep apnea.
Can an oral appliance stop snoring?
Custom oral appliances that move the lower jaw forward can reduce or eliminate snoring for many patients.
Does sleeping on my side help with snoring?
Yes. Many people snore less when sleeping on their side, since back sleeping allows the tongue and soft tissues to fall backward.
Should my child see a doctor for snoring?
Yes. Regular snoring in children can be a sign of pediatric sleep apnea and should be evaluated.
How do I get help for snoring?
Call (844) 387-5337 or request an appointment online with Sleep Health MD.
Quieter Nights Start Here
Help yourself and your partner sleep better. Call (844) 387-5337 or request an appointment online to have your snoring evaluated by a Sleep Health MD sleep specialist.