What is snoring?
Snoring happens when tissues in the back of the throat vibrate as air passes over them during sleep. Nasal infections or deformities can cause snoring, as can obesity, drug or alcohol use, medications, smoking, aging or sleep position.
What natural home remedies to stop snoring work?
Once you have ruled out sleep apnea as the cause of your snoring, the next step is figuring out how to stop snoring. There are some home remedies and behavior changes that may help reduce or eliminate snoring:
- Lose weight.
- Don't sleep on your back.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Don't take muscle relaxants (talk to your doctor before stopping any prescription medication, and ask about alternatives).
- Quit smoking.
- Try an anti-snoring pillow.
- Use nasal strips to open nasal passages.
- Take a hot shower before bed to open the sinuses.
- Change sheets frequently if allergies cause snoring (vacuum and dust regularly too.)
- Use a humidifier or vaporizer.
- Throat exercises
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Do antisnoring apps work?
There are anti-snoring apps available. Download these anti-snoring solutions them onto your phone or tablet, to figure out ways to stop snoring. These apps can help record your snoring, analyze your sleep, and even play sound to awaken you when they detect a snore.
What medical treatments or surgeries stop snoring?
Medical treatments for snoring include assistive breathing devices such as the CPAP.
Sometimes, surgery may be required to help people stop snoring. If snoring is due to a deviated septum, nasal polyps or other nasal deformities, surgery can correct these problems. Surgery also can reduce bulky tissue in the throat or alter bone structure to reduce or cure your snoring. Types of surgery that may be performed to cure causes of snoring include:
- Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy to remove enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids.
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) which thins and tightens tissue in the throat.
- Thermal ablation palatoplasty (TAP) uses radio waves to shrink throat tissues.
- Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) uses a laser to shorten the uvula.
- Palatal implants (also called the Pillar procedure) involves insertion of implants into the soft palate to help stiffen the soft tissue and reduce vibration.
- Somnoplasty uses radiofrequency heat energy to remove or stiffen tissues of the uvula and soft palate so they don't vibrate.
Which type of doctors treats snoring?
Many kinds of doctors treat snoring, depending on the underlying cause. You may first consult your primary care provider (PCP) such as a family practitioner or internist, or a child's pediatrician. For further testing and management of snoring or sleep disorders such as sleep apnea you may be referred to a sleep medicine specialist.
Allergies may be treated by an allergist, and asthma may be treated by a lung specialist (pulmonologist) or respiratory therapist. If you have nasal deformities such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps you may see an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT, or otolaryngologist), and if you require removal of your tonsils or adenoids you may be referred to a surgeon.
Sometimes an oral appliance is helpful to help stop the snoring. This may be fitted by a dentist.