Overview

Snoring is the sound of air being forced through the mouth during sleep. The sound can be loud enough to wake other people in the house. Snoring is quite common among adults, especially men over 40 years old.

Snoring affects millions of adults worldwide and can cause sleep deprivation, poor quality of life, and even health problems such as heart disease or high blood pressure. If you snore, you may want to consider treating it before it becomes a bigger problem.

What are the symptoms of snoring?

Most people with mild to moderate snoring don’t have any noticeable symptoms. However, if you notice repeated episodes of breathing interruptions throughout the night, then you should consult your doctor about these issues. Common symptoms include:

Breathing pauses during sleep
Sleepiness and tiredness during the day
Concentration and memory problems
Waking up with a headache and a sore throat
Gasping for air or choking while sleeping
Having trouble sleeping at night

How is snoring diagnosed?

If you suspect that you might have snoring or sleep apnea, you should first try to identify the underlying factors causing your symptoms. While it is normal to feel exhausted after sleeping, if you continue to experience these symptoms regularly, we recommend visiting one of our expert ENT specialists in Dubai or Al Ain.

During your consultation, our doctor will go over your medical history, ask about your symptoms, and perform a physical examination. They may request imaging tests, such as X-rays or CT scans to examine the structure of your airway.

The doctor may perform a sleep study (called polysomnography) to assess your sleeping habits. The study may be completed at home or at a sleep clinic, during which you will be hooked up to sensors to record your brain wave activity, heart and breathing rate, oxygen levels, arm and leg movements, and sleep stages.

How is snoring treated?

Nonsurgical treatments

Our doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatments to treat your snoring problem, including:

Lifestyle adjustments, including losing weight, avoiding alcohol before going to bed, and sleeping on your side rather than on your back.
Nasal congestion medications.
Oral appliances: These devices are custom-fit dental mouthpieces that help move your jaw stay in the correct position to keep your airway open.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This effective treatment for snoring involves placing a device into the nostril that gently pushes down on the soft palate, preventing it from collapsing. The CPAP machine keeps the airway open while you sleep to don’t choke on excess mucus. The average person will need to wear a CPAP mask for about two hours per night to help reduce snoring.
Botox injections: Botox can be injected into the soft palate to relax the muscles in your airway, preventing them from obstructing your breathing and causing vibrations.

Surgical treatments

Surgery may be used to treat snoring in some cases. Some of the surgical treatment options include:

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: The surgeon removes your tonsils or adenoids if they are the cause of your snoring problem.
Somnoplasty: This procedure involves removing soft tissue from the upper airway or back of the throat using radiofrequency energy.
Septoplasty: The surgeon reshapes the cartilage and bone in the nose to straighten the nose’s deviated septum and increase airflow.
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP): During LAUP, a laser is used to reduce tissue in the soft palate and increase airflow.

Schedule your appointment at Novomed today!

Snoring is caused by narrowing the airways during sleep and tends to worsen if left untreated, leading to an increased incidence of other health conditions. If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or other snoring-related problems, book a consultation with one of our ENT doctors in Dubai or Al Ain by calling toll-free 8006686 or clicking the live chat icon at the bottom of the screen.