The Basics Of Snoring
Snoring occurs when the air passing through the nose and throat is obstructed and creates a loud sound. The tissues along the nasal and throat passageway include the tongue, tonsils, soft palate, and adenoids. Airway blockages can agitate these tissues, creating a grumbling sound as air travels along the pathway. Snoring can be caused by physical factors like obesity, a deviated septum, narrow airways, enlarged adenoids or tonsils, an elongated soft palate, or a large tongue. External factors like alcohol and sedatives can also restrict breathing and trigger snoring.

What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes snoring. In OSA, relaxed throat muscles block the passageway between the nose and throat. The blockage makes the body stop and start breathing during sleep. This condition is dangerous because the person can stop breathing altogether. Other symptoms include gasping or choking while sleeping, chest pain, high blood pressure, and sleepiness during the daytime. Another apnea condition, central apnea, occurs when the brain cannot properly manage the body’s breathing.
Is snoring hereditary?
Yes, snoring can be hereditary, meaning multiple people within one family may snore. Snoring can also become more common as a person ages because the body’s airways naturally constrict due to aging. Men are also more likely to be snorers.
Conventional surgical interventions for snoring
Surgery can be performed on the jaws to broaden the airways and to remove excess tissues from the soft palate or the tongue. In similar fashion, the tonsils can be extracted to expand the respiratory airways. For a deviated septum, septoplasty reshapes the nose to create a better passageway for nasal airflow.
Minimally invasive procedures to combat snoring
A uvulectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that can alleviate snoring for patients. Before the procedure, doctors apply a numbing anesthetic to the uvula and surrounding areas. Then, doctors use a laser or hot snare to remove a portion or the entire uvula and excess soft tissues. Another procedure uses a laser or radiofrequency device to shrink enlarged tissues that obstruct the throat and nasal passageways. A different technique uses specialized sutures to elevate the uvula and soft palate tissues. The sutures help to expand the upper respiratory passage and stiffen tissues to alleviate snoring.
Additional sleep devices
Medical sleep devices like the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask fit over the nose and mouth to deliver air from a pump into the body to prevent blockages. People can also sleep with nasal strips to open nasal passages or a mouthpiece that extends the jaw and repositions the tongue.
Speaking with a professional
Patients with snoring or sleep issues should speak with a medical professional. A qualified professional will evaluate the person through a series of tests including a sleep study to determine the underlying cause of snoring. Then, patients can work with the doctor to find the right surgical or non-surgical interventions to correct the issue.