Snoring Specialist

What is snoring?

Snoring is the sound that you make during sleep when you have obstructed breathing. The sound originates in the tissues at the top of your airways. When you breathe in and out, the tissues hit each other and vibrate. This vibration can be loud enough to wake yourself or others up from sleep.

While many people snore from time to time, loud snoring may be a warning sign that you have an underlying sleep disorder.

Other common causes of snoring include:

• Being overweight
• Consuming alcohol
• Deviated septum
• Chronic nasal congestion

You may be more likely to snore because of your favored sleep positions, especially if you sleep on your back. If snoring and sleep apnea runs in your family, you may be at increased risk for developing the same issues.

When should I seek help for snoring?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with Dr. Newton if your snoring is interfering with your quality of life or the life of your partner and family.

Dr. Newton also recommends seeking treatment for snoring if you experience symptoms like:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Frequent waking throughout the night
• Gasping for breath upon waking

To identify the root cause of your snoring and other issues like sleep apnea, Dr. Newton carefully reviews your personal and family medical history, your symptoms, and your sleep habits. 

He may recommend that you participate in a home sleep study to monitor your heart rate and breathing patterns while you’re asleep. You may also need additional diagnostic tests to assess obstructions in your nasal passages and your airways.

How is snoring treated?

Initially, Dr. Newton may work with you on lifestyle changes to improve your sleep habits and your health. He may suggest diet and exercise changes to help you lose weight safely. You should also avoid alcohol before you go to sleep and try to avoid sleeping on your back.

Two effective treatments to relieve chronic, loud snoring are:

Oral appliances

Oral appliances are custom mouthpieces that fit your mouth and keep your jaw and tongue in a forward position to prevent airway blockages while you sleep.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

A CPAP device delivers continuous pressurized air into your nose and mouth through a mask you wear while asleep.

If these therapies aren’t enough to improve your breathing while you sleep, you may need surgery to remove excess tissue from your airways or from your nasal passages.

Dr. Newton customizes your treatment plan to your needs and closely monitors your progress with treatment to prevent long-term health complications like high blood pressure and heart problems.

Don’t let snoring interfere with your sleep any longer. Call the office of Michael N. Newton MD, or schedule an appointment online today.