Snoring often affects the person doing it far less than whoever's trying to sleep next to them. Whether your partner's been complaining about your snoring or you're experiencing daytime sleepiness and sore throats because of snoring, ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA can help. Its skilled otolaryngologists can find out what's making you snore and provide effective remedies so you and those around you can get a good night's sleep. Call the practice's convenient office in Sewickley, Beaver/Vanport Township, Seven Fields, or Ohio Valley in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, today or schedule a consultation online.
Snoring occurs if your soft palate and uvula (a small tissue mass hanging at the top of your throat) relax and begin to vibrate when you fall asleep. Men experience snoring more often than women, but anyone can snore.
There are several reasons why you might be snoring, such as:
A common cause of severe snoring is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). That is where your breathing stops for a few seconds multiple times during the night because your soft palate drops down and blocks your airway.
These constant interruptions to your sleep and reduced oxygen intake overnight can have serious effects on your health.
Among other problems, OSA can cause overwhelming daytime sleepiness and increase your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA specializes in treating OSA.
Because snoring happens when you're asleep, you could be unaware of the noise you're making. People often claim they never snore, but their partners may be painfully aware of the snoring because it's affecting their sleep.
There are a few signs that you might be snoring a lot, for example:
Snoring that's causing symptoms like these could indicate there's an underlying health problem.
Snoring occasionally or because you have a cold isn't something to worry about, but regular or severe snoring does benefit from treatment. The first thing to address is the cause of your snoring.
To check for conditions like OSA, the ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA team uses the NightOwl® home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) system, which involves sleeping with a monitor on your finger for a few nights.
If you have OSA, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is an effective way to stop snoring. With CPAP, you wear a mask over your nose and mouth connected to a machine that pressurizes the air you breathe and keeps the airway open.
If you're overweight or obese, weight loss is likely to resolve your snoring problem, and treating underlying issues like nasal obstruction or a deviated septum is also vital. Your otolaryngologist can perform ENT surgery where necessary, and the practice also offers allergy testing and immunotherapy treatments. If chronic sinusitis is to blame, balloon sinuplasty is an effective treatment.
To find out what's causing your snoring and how to overcome it, call ENT and Allergy Specialists of Western PA or book an appointment online today.
