SNORING & SLEEP DISORDERS

Snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound that occurs when your breathing is partially obstructed while you're sleeping. Snoring can be a nuisance to your partner but sometimes snoring may indicate a serious health condition.

As many as half of adults snore sometimes. Snoring occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe.

Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight persons, and it usually grows worse with age.

Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime or sleeping on your side, can help stop snoring.

In addition, medical devices and surgery are available that may reduce disruptive snoring.

Depending on the cause of your snoring, your symptoms may include:

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if:

These may indicate your snoring is caused by a more serious condition, such as obstructive sleep apnoea.

Children can suffer with obstructive sleep apnoea. Some children will snore loudly and have gaps in their breathing and will often lie in strange positions to help with breathing at night.  They can be difficult to raise in the morning and can suffer from tiredness or lack of concentration during the day. Most childhood sleep apnoea is caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. A lot will improve with time but sometimes surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids is required in severe cases.

 

What Causes Snoring?

The noisy sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. One thing to remember from the outset is that the cause of your snoring is likely to be multifactorial.

People who snore may suffer from:

 


The North Hampshire ENT Partnership is a team of consultants specialising in a wide spectrum of diseases and disorders that affect the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) including snoring and sleep disorders, cosmetic and skin surgery.

 

Our surgeons provide specialist care by drawing from the 50 plus years of combined NHS experience and the many areas of individual specialist expertise available within the partnership.

 

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