Causes, Treatments, and Solutions for Better Sleep
Snoring is often dismissed as a harmless annoyance, something that disrupts your partner’s rest or becomes the subject of a few jokes. But in reality, snoring can be a symptom of a deeper problem that affects your sleep quality, daytime energy, and even your long-term health.
Whether it’s occasional or chronic, understanding why snoring happens, what it means, and how it can be treated is the first step toward reclaiming quiet, restful nights.
What Is Snoring?
Snoring occurs when air cannot flow freely through the nose and throat during sleep. As airflow becomes partially blocked, the tissues in the airway vibrate, producing that familiar sound. The narrower the airway, the louder the snoring tends to be.
For many, snoring is simply due to temporary factors like sleeping on the back or nasal congestion. But in other cases, it can signal a structural issue or a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea.
Common Causes of Snoring
There are several possible reasons why someone may snore. Often, it’s a combination of anatomical, lifestyle, and environmental factors:
1. Obstructed Nasal Airways
Blocked or congested nasal passages force you to breathe through your mouth, increasing the risk of snoring. This can be caused by:
- Allergies
- Sinus infections
- Nasal polyps
- Deviated septum
- Enlarged turbinates
2. Poor Muscle Tone in the Throat or Tongue
When throat muscles relax too much due to aging, alcohol, or sedatives the airway narrows or collapses during sleep.
3. Excess Weight
Carrying extra weight around the neck can place pressure on the airway, especially when lying down.
4. Sleeping Position
Sleeping on your back allows gravity to pull the tongue and soft palate toward the back of the throat, which can obstruct airflow.
5. Alcohol or Sedative Use
These substances relax the muscles in the throat, increasing the likelihood of snoring.
6. Enlarged Tonsils or Adenoids
Common in children but also possible in adults, these tissues can block airflow when swollen.
When Snoring Becomes a Health Concern
Occasional, quiet snoring may not be harmful. However, chronic, loud snoring especially when paired with other symptoms can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a potentially serious disorder in which breathing pauses repeatedly during sleep.
Signs that your snoring might be linked to sleep apnea include:
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Daytime fatigue despite a full night’s rest
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth upon waking
- Difficulty concentrating
- High blood pressure
- Irritability or mood changes
Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cognitive decline.
If you or your partner notice these symptoms, it’s time to consult a sleep specialist or ENT doctor.
How Is Snoring Diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical examination. Your doctor may:
- Examine your nose, throat, and jaw for structural issues
- Evaluate body weight and neck circumference
- Ask about your sleep habits and daytime energy
- Recommend a sleep study (polysomnography) to monitor breathing, oxygen levels, and snoring patterns overnight
At Erdem Hospital, our multidisciplinary sleep team uses advanced diagnostic tools to pinpoint the cause of snoring and offer personalized treatment options.
Snoring Treatment Options
The right treatment depends on the underlying cause of your snoring. Some patients benefit from simple lifestyle changes, while others may need medical or surgical intervention.
Lifestyle & Home Remedies
- Sleep on your side: Use a body pillow to prevent rolling onto your back.
- Lose weight: Reducing fat around the throat can open up the airway.
- Avoid alcohol and sedatives: Especially within 2–3 hours of bedtime.
- Practice good sleep hygiene: Aim for consistent, restful sleep.
- Treat nasal congestion: Use saline rinses, decongestants, or allergy medications as needed.
Medical Treatments
- Nasal dilators or strips: Help open the nostrils and improve airflow.
- Oral appliances: Custom dental devices that reposition the lower jaw to keep the airway open.
- CPAP therapy: A machine that delivers constant air pressure through a mask to treat sleep apnea.
- Positional therapy: Devices or apps that encourage side-sleeping.
Surgical Options
If structural issues like a deviated septum, nasal polyps, or enlarged turbinates are contributing to snoring, surgery may be recommended. Options include:
- Septoplasty (to straighten the nasal septum)
- Turbinate reduction (to reduce swelling inside the nose)
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) to remove excess throat tissue
- Radiofrequency ablation or laser therapy for soft palate tightening
All procedures should be discussed with an experienced ENT surgeon to determine suitability and safety.
Don’t Sleep on the Problem
Snoring may seem like a nighttime nuisance, but it can seriously impact your health, relationships, and quality of life. Whether it’s disrupting your own sleep or someone else’s, the first step is to recognize that snoring is a symptom not the cause.
At Erdem Hospital, we help patients get to the root of their snoring through comprehensive ENT evaluations, sleep studies, and evidence-based treatments. With over 37 years of experience, our goal is simple: to help you breathe better, sleep deeper, and live healthier.