Snoring

The noise produced by snoring occurs because there is a partial obstruction to air flow when breathing in at night. We usually breathe through our nose so that the air is well filtered, warmed and humidified by the structures in the nose. When there is anything in the way of the air the airflow becomes turbulent and catches the little tongue (uvula) at the back of the throat and starts it vibrating. A slight opening of the mouth then creates the soundbox and snoring results. There are a few key causes of snoring and these are:

Age and alcohol – both cause a loss of muscle tone in the throat
Obesity – particularly in men as they gain weight around the throat and chest area. The increase in weight directly narrows down the throat area creating the turbulence. A swelling of the lining of the throat can also be caused by reflux of acid from the stomach.
Blockage in the nose – anything from enlarged adenoids to a deviated septum or polyps can create the change in airflow required to make it turbulent. Enlarged tonsils in the throat can cause snoring and are the number one cause of snoring in children
Palate – an enlarged palate can cause crowding in the back of the throat. Be careful that it is not enlarged because of the snoring.
Backward movement of the tongue – when we sleep on our back the jaw with the tongue can move backwards creating the obstruction in the throat sufficient to cause snoring

When assessing or treating snoring it is very important to make sure that it is not a sign of something worse such as obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatment of snoring is best related to the most obvious cause. A visit to the ENT surgeon would clarify any nasal or obvious throat blockage. Losing weight can have a significant effect on snoring particularly in men. Treating gastric reflux may help. An oral appliance or preventing lying on the back can work well for snoring which is worse when lying on the back. While surgery on the palate can be done it should be a last resort.