Snoring: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Snoring is a common health issue that can lead to various negative effects, from reduced sleep quality to social problems.

Snoring occurs when the flow of air during breathing causes a noise as it moves through the respiratory tract. This issue, which can appear periodically in many people, may become chronic and persist throughout life for some individuals. When structural problems in the respiratory tract are present, treating these issues and implementing certain lifestyle changes can help address snoring. Therefore, patients with chronic snoring complaints are advised to take this condition seriously and seek medical evaluation.

What is Snoring?

In its simplest definition, snoring is a problem of noisy breathing during sleep. It is more commonly seen in men, individuals who are overweight, and older adults. Snoring can occur occasionally or be a persistent issue. For those with snoring problems, the air taken in during sleep passes through loose tissues in the throat, causing them to vibrate, which leads to a muffled, rough sound. Measures such as maintaining an ideal body weight by losing excess weight, avoiding alcohol consumption close to bedtime, using a higher pillow, or sleeping on one’s side are often quite effective in preventing or reducing snoring. In some cases, snoring may be caused by nasal obstructions, deformities, or issues due to trauma. For these situations, medical devices or even surgical interventions may be necessary for snoring treatment. Although snoring is very common and generally does not indicate a serious condition, it can sometimes signal underlying health issues. Therefore, it is recommended that people who experience snoring consult healthcare providers for an evaluation.

What Are the Symptoms of Snoring?

As the name suggests, snoring is characterized by noise from the respiratory tract during sleep. However, due to snoring, sleep quality in affected individuals can be significantly impaired, leading to additional symptoms. Some of the symptoms associated with snoring include:

• Dry mouth
• Bad breath
• Sore throat
• Waking up from one's own snoring
• Lack of restful sleep
• Frequent waking up at night

What Causes Snoring?

Snoring can result from various factors, ranging from certain lifestyle issues to serious respiratory conditions. Factors known to be associated with snoring include anatomical issues with the mouth and sinuses, common colds, and being overweight. Under normal conditions, the palate, tongue, and throat muscles relax in the upper part of the mouth. These softened tissues can become relaxed enough to partially or completely block the airway. The narrower the airway, the stronger the airflow, which increases the vibration of these tissues, leading to snoring. Therefore, the anatomical structure of the airway is closely related to snoring. Other causes of snoring include:

• Issues related to the structure of the palate
• Excess weight (obesity)
• Chronic nasal congestion
• Nasal structure issues (such as deviated septum, bone curvature, or adenoid problems)
• Lack of sleep and irregular sleep patterns
• Sleeping on one’s back
• Muscle weakness in the throat and tongue
• Seasonal allergies
• Nasal polyps
• Sinusitis

How is Snoring Diagnosed?

Many people learn about their snoring problem from their partner, family, or those they live with. Information from close ones about how long the snoring has been going on and whether it varies by sleeping position should be gathered before deciding to consult a doctor. When consulting a doctor about snoring, it may be helpful to bring a close one who has observed your snoring. To understand the cause of snoring, the doctor may ask both you and your companion certain questions. The doctor usually performs a physical examination to identify issues that may cause snoring, such as tonsil enlargement (tonsillitis), chronic nasal congestion due to sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or septum deviation. During this examination, the doctor may ask you to sit in a chair and use a thin tube with a light and camera to examine your airways. Structural issues in the nose, rhinitis, or sinusitis can be easily detected with this simple examination that lasts only a few minutes. Additionally, imaging techniques such as X-ray, MRI, or CT scan may be used for a more detailed examination of the nose and airways. After determining the causes of snoring, a treatment plan is initiated accordingly.

Symptoms Associated with Snoring

Lifestyle or sleep position issues may contribute to snoring without causing any serious complications. However, many snoring cases are linked to obstructive sleep apnea. The likelihood of sleep apnea increases when certain symptoms accompany snoring. These symptoms include:

• Daytime drowsiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Short pauses in breathing during sleep
• Morning headaches
• Restlessness during sleep
• High blood pressure
• Sore throat in the morning
• Feeling breathless at night
• Very loud snoring

Additionally, one of the main indicators of obstructive sleep apnea in snoring patients is periods of silence following loud snoring. After these pauses, caused by breathing cessation, individuals may exhibit behaviors like waking up or making grunting sounds. Snoring alone or combined with the above symptoms should be taken seriously, and medical consultation is recommended.

Snoring Treatment

Chronic snoring, especially when accompanied by obstructive sleep apnea, requires medical treatment. Treatment methods for snoring vary based on the patient’s issues, health status, obesity level, and the underlying cause of snoring. Excess weight, a major cause of airway obstruction, is one of the primary factors in snoring. Therefore, overweight individuals should start a weight-loss diet under the guidance of a dietitian to reach their ideal body mass. Additionally, alcohol consumption close to bedtime should be avoided, and one should aim for adequate and regular sleep. Since sleeping on your back narrows the airways due to gravity, a side-sleeping position is recommended. Chronic nasal congestion caused by sinusitis, allergies, or structural issues should also be carefully examined and treated.

Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea may need to use oral appliances to keep the airway open. If these appliances are needed, patients are referred to dentists for device selection and oral compatibility. Patients using oral appliances should attend follow-up examinations at intervals recommended by their doctor. Increased saliva, dry mouth, jaw pain, and discomfort may occur with the use of these devices.

Some patients with obstructive sleep apnea may require the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask. In this treatment, a mask is worn over the mouth and nose during sleep, and air pressure is applied through a pump to keep the airway open. Although this treatment effectively reduces snoring and sleep apnea, many patients experience challenges adjusting to it. The final treatment option for snoring associated with sleep apnea is surgery. The aim of surgical operations is generally to prevent airway obstruction. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a surgical technique where excessive tissue in the throat is tightened to widen the airway under general anesthesia. In another procedure, maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), the lower and upper jaw are moved forward to open the airway.

Radiofrequency signals can be used to reduce soft tissue in the palate, tongue, or nose, a treatment known as radiofrequency tissue ablation. Another approach, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, involves applying a stimulator to the nerve controlling tongue movement. This helps prevent the tongue from blocking the airway during inhalation while sleeping. A doctor will decide on the appropriate treatment approach after a detailed examination and evaluation.

If you suffer from chronic snoring, consider consulting a healthcare provider to investigate the causes. By identifying lifestyle or health issues related to your airways, you can start treatments to help prevent snoring and improve your quality of life.