ENT Southwest
Snoring
Over 3.5 million people in the UK are snorers but a far greater number suffer the effects. Snoring is disruptive to family life, it can cause family members to lose sleep, have poor concentration during the day and result in disagreements.
What causes us to snore?
Snoring is the noise created by floppy tissue blocking the passages in the upper airway. The most common causes of snoring are:
- Obstruction by the tongue
- Deviated septum (in the nose)
- Small nostrils
- Large soft palate or uvula
- Overnight congestion (catarrh, allergies)
The reduced airflow causes the soft palate to vibrate, creating a snoring sound.
Is snoring dangerous?
Snoring itself is not serious but it can alert us to the presence of a more serious disorder, sleep apnoea, in which the snorer stops breathing for a few seconds several times an hour.
What is sleep apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is when the sufferer stops breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnoea are:
- Obstructive apnoea
- Central sleep apnoea
- Mixed sleep apnoea
Symptoms of these conditions are:
- Loud snoring
- An excessive feeling of sleepiness during the daytime
- A choking feeling at night
- Restless sleep resulting in morning headaches
- Irritability
- Forgetfulness
- Anxiety/depression
- A decreased interest in sex
Long term - can result in personality changes for the sufferer and their partner. Other long-term problems can arise from this disorder resulting in high blood pressure, heart irregularities and swollen ankles.
What treatments are available from ENT South West?
After an initial consultation and assessment with the Consultant ENT Surgeon you will undergo a series of investigations. The results of your investigations, along with your history, will enable the Consultant to confirm the particular type of condition you suffer. You will then be advised on a course of action and the treatments available:
- Lifestyle changes - Some patients sleep patterns may be affected by weight gain, alcohol intake and smoking. Weight loss alone may cure the problem.
- Dental devices - Patients may be offered a small plastic splint made to wear in the mouth at night. The splints are made by a consultant orthodontist, to combat snoring that originates from the base of the tongue.
- Polysomnography - This term simply means the monitoring of certain physical signs throughout the night whilst you are asleep. It enables the Consultant to find out about the quality of your breathing and how it affects you whilst you sleep.
- Somnoplasty - In this minimally invasive treatment, enlarged soft palate and uvula tissue in the throat are treated with an electronic device, removing excess tissue. This safe and almost painless treatment has resulted in many patients reporting a great reduction in their snoring symptoms, overall sleep quality and decreased snoring levels.
- Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device - This treatment originated in Sydney, Australia in the late 1980’s. It can be likened to a vacuum cleaner in reverse. It is a small pump that blows air into a mask that goes over the nose, the mask is worn throughout the night and the air flow prevents the upper airway from collapsing, stopping you snoring, gasping and choking.
- Surgical treatments - A variety of surgical treatments have been proposed over the years and are currently offered to patients, however surgery is not a first line treatment for snoring.
For further information or to make an appointment call ENT South West now on 01793 496 660 or complete the enquiry form
