Forty-five percent of us snore occasionally, and 25 percent of us snore every night. This makes snoring one of the most common chronic problems that we, as humans, experience. It is one of the few disease processes that cause more suffering to those nearby than to the person with the problem. After 18 years of treating snoring, I am still amazed at the number of couples who sleep apart from one another as a result of snoring.

Even worse than the relationship tension and poor sleep quality, snoring may be a sign of a more serious medical problem called obstructive sleep apnea. Most snoring problems are treatable, and almost all cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be alleviated. Unfortunately, however, only a small percentage of people ever seek medical care.

There are several reasons why we snore. You may have one or multiple reasons for the problem. Snoring is sound our throat tissues make when they vibrate. The floppier these tissues are, the more we snore. A good example of this is the snoring that results from drinking alcohol or taking sleeping pills. These drugs make our throat muscles more relaxed and more likely to vibrate.

Another reason we snore is that our throat tissues lose elasticity over time and become more floppy; as such, snoring becomes more common with advancing age. Those who are overweight will also find themselves more likely to snore and much more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea. One of the more common problems I encounter in my practice is the chronically stuffy nose. This patient will often have snoring problems that resolve with successful treatment of the nasal blockage. It is vital to first determine the cause and location of the snoring so appropriate treatment can be applied.

Once I have identified the cause(s) of snoring, we discuss treatment. Sometimes I will recommend a sleep study if I’m worried about obstructive sleep apnea. This condition results in the narrowing of the throat opening, usually during the deeper stages of sleep. This causes repetitive drops in our blood oxygen levels, which can have a damaging impact on the entire cardiovascular system.

Many people with obstructive sleep apnea think they have simple snoring and let the problem progress to an irreversible stage. Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated non-surgically with CPAP or surgery in carefully selected patients.

I find that patients will often try the snoring remedies they see on television or the Internet. A few of these are actually effective in certain individuals, but most are a waste of money.

By the time I see the patients, they are ready for solutions with reproducible effectiveness.

If a nasal problem clearly exists, I will address this first. Medical treatment will usually provide success, unless there are significant anatomic problems, such as sepal deviation. If the nose is clear, I focus on identifying the portion of the throat that is vibrating.

Sometimes the problem results from the jaw moving toward the back of the throat during sleep relaxation. A device called an oral appliance, similar to a retainer, can prevent that movement and serve as an effective therapy. Many patients have large tonsils that narrow the airway and cause excessive vibration. Removing large tonsils is a very effective way of treating the problem.

If the problem is identified as excessive tissue laxity, we have several ways of reducing this floppiness of the throat tissues. Most of these are performed in the office with local anesthesia. The newest method involves the placement of Dacron implants, called Pillar implants, into the soft palate. This causes stiffening of the soft palate and therefore, less vibration.

We can also cause stiffening by injecting alcohol into the palate or by delivering radio-frequency energy to the throat tissues. When the patient desires more snoring reduction, these procedures can be repeated or combined with one another.

More severe cases of snoring and those that do not respond to the minimally invasive therapies can be addressed by removing the excessively lax tissues. This usually involves minor surgery on the soft palate.

With this brief introduction to the causes and treatments of snoring, I hope you realize this is not a hopeless problem. Relieving snoring is one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice, as effective treatment usually makes a positive impact on people’s lives.

For more information, contact Snoring Austin, division of Capital Otolaryngology, at 12201 Renfert Way, Ste. 105 Austin, Texas 78758, or call 512-339-4040.