Advanced ENT & Allergy is the best sleep center in South Jersey. With multiple locations, we can help treat problem snoring and sleep apnea without you having to be far from home. Over 45% of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25% are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight individuals. Snoring may be an indication of obstructed breathing and should not be taken lightly. An Advanced ENT & Allergy otolaryngologist can help you to determine where the anatomic source of your snoring may be and offer solutions for this noisy and often embarrassing behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People who snore may suffer from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat. <\/strong>When muscles are too relaxed, the tongue falls backwards into the airway, or the throat muscles draw in from the sides into the airway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue.<\/strong> Children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Overweight people may have excess soft tissue in the neck that can lead to airway narrowing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Long soft palate and\/or uvula.<\/strong> A long palate narrows the opening from the nose into the throat. The excessive length of the soft palate and\/or uvula acts as a noisy flutter valve during relaxed breathing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Obstructed nasal airways.<\/strong> A stuffy or blocked nose requires extra effort to pull air through it. This creates an exaggerated vacuum in the throat that pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat, and snoring results.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Excessive snoring disturbs sleeping patterns and deprives the snorer of adequate rest. It may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can lead to serious, long-term health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Causes Snoring?<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Snoring is extremely common: 45% of American adults snore occasionally, and 25% are habitual snorers. While many consider it a mere nuisance, snoring is a sleep disorder that can be a sign of a serious medical condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you sleep, your tongue, throat muscles and soft palate relax. If they relax too much, they can droop backward and block the airway, vibrating together when you breathe. This causes the telltale noisy sounds associated with snoring. The more the airway is obstructed, the louder the snoring will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several factors that increase the odds you will snore. People with bulky throat tissue or an enlarged soft palate are more at risk for snoring, as are those who experience frequent nasal congestion, have a deviated septum, nasal polyps, enlarged tonsils or adenoids as well as those who drink alcohol before bedtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typical snorer is overweight, male and over the age of 40. Snoring tends to worsen with age. In some individuals, the airway becomes so obstructed that breathing is interrupted; this leads to a serious medical condition known as sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips for Quieting Your Snoring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If your snoring isn\u2019t a complication of sleep apnea, implementing lifestyle changes may help eliminate the problem. Useful tips include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Sleeping on your side instead of your back<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Losing weight<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Avoiding alcohol before bedtime<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Treating allergies<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Eliminating tobacco smoke<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is interrupted periodically throughout the night. These pauses, or gaps, in breathing may be accompanied by choking or gasping but rarely awaken the sleeping individual. An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, many of them unaware of their condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Causes Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax and droop during sleep, blocking the airway and causing breathing difficulty. It is by far the most common form of the disorder. Central sleep apnea is the result of the brain failing to properly control breathing during sleep; this is rare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main sign of sleep apnea is chronic, loud snoring. Symptoms include daytime drowsiness, lack of concentration, memory loss, irritability and depression. You may experience frequent morning headaches and sore throats and wake up with a dry mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who are male, overweight and older than 40 are most at risk, though sleep apnea can \u2013 and does \u2013 affect people of both sexes and all ages. Other factors that can contribute to sleep apnea include natural aging, excessive or bulky throat tissue, large soft palate or uvula, small jaw, large neck and oversized tonsils or adenoids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allergies, sinus infections, tobacco use and alcohol all may play a role as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If lifestyle modifications do not solve the problem, oral appliances that reposition the lower jaw may help. Another alternative is nasal breathing strips. Some individuals might benefit from surgical techniques such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or Inspire.<\/p>\n\n\n\nView Our Services<\/summary>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/advancedent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/excessive-snoring.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n