Snoring
Snoring at least once in a while is fairly common. But snoring can be a sign of serious health problems. It is a symptom of sleep apnea, which can lead to long-term health problems. Snoring disrupts your sleep patterns and disturbs the sleep of anyone sleeping within earshot.
Snoring can be caused by:
- Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat
- Narrowing of the airways because of enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or excess body fat
- Long soft palate or uvula
- Stuffy nose
Treatment
If you snore and have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. Your doctor will examine you to make sure you don’t have sleep apnea.
- Pauses in your breathing when you sleep
- Sleepiness or feeling very tired during the day
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- History of a stroke
If you only snore once in a while:
- Exercise to build muscle tone and lose any extra weight
- Don’t take sleeping pills, tranquilizers or antihistamines before bedtime
- Don’t drink alcohol within four hours of going to bed
- Don’t eat heavy meals or snacks within three hours of going to bed
- Keep yourself on a consistent sleep schedule
- Sleep on your side
- Elevate the head of your bed four inches
Our Physicians
Rex ENT Specialists can provide treatment for snoring and other sleep disorders. Dr. John A. Garside, M.D., specializes in treating ear, nose and throat disorders in adults and children.
Resources
To learn more about snoring, check the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
