Want Snore?

If you're kept awake at night by someone who snores, you're not alone. And, snoring becomes more common as we age — by age 60, more than half of adults snore.

The log-sawing vibrations are often the result of air trying to move through narrowed or floppy, soft passages in the mouth, throat and nose. Other times, the air is obstructed by anatomical abnormalities, such as over-sized tonsils or uvula — that boxing-bag like thing that hangs in the back of the throat.

Fat in the neck area can constrict airway passages and lead to increased snoring. And, as we age, the soft tissue inside the mouth and palate can sag, just as wrinkles develop with aging skin.

Home Remedies

Sleep Position

Experts recommend starting by adjusting your body position: Try to sleep on your side. Many people snore only when they're on their backs.

Avoiding Alcohol

Alcohol and sedatives can relax the palate of your mouth and decrease the opening in the throat, which leads to snoring.

Over-The-Counter Fixes

Dental Appliances

Dental appliances are designed to pull the tongue forward to prevent constriction in the back of the mouth.

But many people spit them out, says Malekzadeh, and it's not an effective option if you can't keep it in your mouth.

Custom-fitted dental appliances, crafted by a dentist or oral surgeon, can be effective for some snorers.

Treating A Stuffy Nose

If you have trouble breathing through your nose, over-the-counter decongestants or breathing strips that adhere to your nose could help, says Stacey Ishman, an ENT doctor and the director of the Center for Snoring and Sleep Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

When Snoring Turns Dangerous

Sometimes, snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Sleep apnea is more common in overweight people, though normal weight people can also develop it.

For someone who is already prone to sleep apnea, weight gain can increase the risk, says Ishman. Fat "pads" can constrict the airway and lead to snoring, or in cases of sleep apnea, a complete collapse of the airway.

Additionally, researchers are looking into how snoring may increase the risk of memory issues, mood disorders and learning problems — in part because snoring can interrupt rest.

A few studies have also found an association between snoring and higher rates of cardio-vascular risk factors including high-blood pressure.

It's impossible to say what amount of snoring, and over what period of time, is dangerous, says Ishman. "But we feel comfortable saying that if you can do something to treat the snoring we think it's going to reduce your risk factors."

When Is Surgery Recommended?

Experts say there are many factors to consider. But, generally speaking, doctors recommend surgery when anatomical problems are causing excessive snoring.

The Nose

For example, some people have a deviated septum, which is when the thin wall that separates the right and left side of your nose is displaced to one side. When a deviated septum is severe, it can block one side of your nose and reduce airflow.

ENTs also perform surgeries on people who have over-sized "turbinates," or shelves on the inside the nose.

"These shelves help warm and clean the air" says Malekzadeh, "but if they're big or become enlarged they can crowd the nasal cavity."

The surgery shaves the bone in the nose down to a normal size. After the surgery, the reduced turbinate ridges open up space so air can move through unobstructed.

The Mouth And Throat

An adult tonsillectomy, the removal of the tonsils, is a common treatment for sleep apnea. It entails about a two-week recovery period.

When sleep apnea isn't the cause, snoring is often considered a "cosmetic" problem and most treatments are not covered by insurance companies.




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