If you are like many, you view your snoring as a problem that you simply have to live with. Not only is this mindset false, it can also be dangerous. Snoring is nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, 1 in 4 Americans are habitual snorers. Snoring is your body’s way of alerting you that something is not right, so figuring out the cause of your snoring is the key to stopping it.
Why Are You Snoring?
Snoring happens when there is an obstruction of airflow through the passages at the back of your mouth and nose. These obstructions result in negative air pressure, which cause the vibrations of the soft tissue, making the sound associated with snoring.
There are many different causes of snoring. Below are some contributing factors that may cause you to snore:
- Nasal congestion
- A unique mouth structure
- Being overweight
- Eating late at night
- Alcohol consumption
Snoring may also be caused by a serious condition called sleep apnea, a prevalent sleep condition that causes you to stop breathing multiple times throughout the night.
These pauses in breathing can last anywhere from seconds to minutes, and can occur 30 times an hour, or more. When normal breathing resumes, you might make a snorting or choking sound. When your breathing is shallow, or pauses, you will move out of deep sleep. This causes you to wake up tired.
More significantly, sleep apnea is associated with some significant health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Often, sleep apnea goes undiagnosed.
Sleep apnea is not a condition that doctors notice during routine visits, and no blood test can diagnose sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can only be diagnosed by an ENT doctor, so seeking medical care is vital for figuring out how to stop snoring. At eos sleep, our ENT doctors specialize in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. We offer almost all of the available treatment options for sleep apnea, many of which significantly reduce, or even eliminate snoring altogether.
Get relief from snoring. Schedule an appointment with eos sleep.
How to Stop Snoring
To stop snoring, many people start by making lifestyle changes which helps to minimize snoring. Some snorers find relief when they…
- Lose weight
- Exercise consistently
- Avoid alcohol and sedatives
- Quit smoking
- Sleep with your head raised or on your side
- Establish a regular sleeping pattern
Unfortunately, these methods will not stop the snoring all together, especially if it is caused by sleep apnea.
Find a Long-Term Solution to Stop Snoring
The first step to finding a solution is to visit an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT doctor). The ENT doctors at eos sleep are sleep specialists and they focus on treating snoring conditions. They will diagnose the underlying condition that is causing you to snore, which may be more than one obstruction in your airway, and will help you to figure out how to stop snoring.
Some people are hesitant to seek snoring treatment because they fear they may be required to use bulky equipment, like the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine which is commonly used to treat snoring and sleep apnea.
Or, they may worry that they will need extensive surgery, one that requires a hospital stay and a lengthy recovery period.
Fortunately, medical advances have led to the development of a wide range of treatment options for snoring and sleep apnea, and many of the available options are minimally-invasive.
At eos sleep, we tailor the type of treatment you need based on your condition and what will work best for you long-term. A few of the non-invasive or minimally-invasive treatment options that your ENT doctor may suggest could include:
- CPAP treatment
- Snoring mouthpiece (also known as an oral appliance)
- Lifestyle changes
- Balloon Sinuplasty
- Palate Coblation
- Pillar Procedure
- Coblation turbinate reduction
Get Relief From Your Snoring
Finding the right treatment can provide long-term, and even permanent relief for snoring. A board certified ENT doctor at eos sleep will partner with you to determine how to stop snoring. Schedule now!
Finding relief for your snoring will not only keep your bed partner happy and help you get a better night’s sleep, it will also keep you healthier.
