As an ENT doctor in London, we’re highly qualified on the subject of snoring! In this post, we’ll go through causes, treatments and preventative measures to help your snoring problems become part of the past, instead of affecting your health and sleep quality now, and in the future.
What is snoring?
It’s essentially a persistent sound made while you’re sleeping, which is caused by something affecting your airflow when breathing. Sounds can vary – it could be wheezing, snorting, rattling or something else.
What causes snoring?
There can be lots of different causes. Sometimes snoring problems can be caused by something simple like an allergy, or drinking alcohol. In other cases, poor muscle tone might cause your tongue muscles to ‘collapse’ into your airway or the tissues in your mouth might vibrate against each other.
Why is it an issue?
Snoring problems can disrupt your own, and others’ sleep. If snoring problems are causing you to suffer from lack of sleep problems, it can lead to other concerns, affecting your immunity, focus, weight and risk of developing conditions such as diabetes.
In addition, snoring can sometimes be indicative of a health concern.
What snoring treatments are available?
It really depends on what’s causing your snoring, but surgery led by an ENT doctor may be an option. We may be able to help stiffen your palate, or help remove or decrease tissues in the throat region.
Can I try anything else to help my snoring problems?
Being a healthy weight and managing your alcohol intake are great places to start, but there are other options – you could try sleeping on your side, or there may be oral appliances you can wear that keep your airways open.
What about sleep apnoea?
This is slightly different, as it’s a condition that causes your breathing to stop. Signs include frequent waking, headaches, tiredness and loud snoring, If it’s not treated, it can lead to high blood pressure, depression and a higher chance of serious accidents (e.g. when driving).
Sleep apnoea has been linked to a range of things, from genetics to sleeping positions, obesity and even age.
How do I schedule my treatment?
You’ll need to get in touch with us to discuss availability, and then will need to attend a consultation to assess your situation and specific snoring problems. Following this, we’ll book you in with our ENT doctor for the necessary treatment, and will cover all aspects of your treatment – including aftercare.