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What Are the Causes and Treatment for Snoring?

Snoring is a problem that disturbs not only the people sleeping around you but also affects your health. The symptoms include medical problems as well as lifestyle choices. While alcohol, medications and being overweight can lead to excess snoring, there are also danger signs to look for that might send you running to a doctor.

  1. Sleep Apnea

    • Sleep apnea occurs when you have one or more breathing pauses while you sleep. These breathing pauses lasts anywhere from a few seconds up to several minutes. When you begin to breathe again, loud snoring occurs. The condition interrupts peaceful sleep by taking you out of deep sleep three or more times a week. When you try to breathe during attacks of sleep apnea, loud snoring is the result. This medical problem results in the possibility of higher blood pressure, strokes, diabetes and heart attacks.

    Chronic Nasal Congestion

    • Theories suggest that nasal congestion is a cause of both snoring and sleep apnea. The Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study determined that people suffering from severe chronic nasal congestion were at risk for habitual snoring. Inflammation of blood vessels in the nasal tissues causes nasal congestion. This medical condition causes problems with hearing and speech, and severe congestion interferes with sleep.

    Treatments for Sleep Apnea

    • Treatments for sleep apnea include mouthpieces, breathing devices and surgery. Doctors also suggest lifestyle changes such as losing weight, as well as avoiding alcohol and certain medications. When you sleep on your back, it also increases the chance of snoring, so changing sleeping positions may help.

    Treatments for Nonapneic Snoring

    • For treatment of nasal congestion, try nasal sprays, as well as using a humidifier to increase the humidity levels in your home. Surgery is also available for treating nonapneic snoring. Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) surgery removes the patient's uvula, and tests indicate that this surgery is effective at reducing snoring in patients, according to pubmed.gov.

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