Snoring

How to Treat Snoring

Light or Occasional Snoring

Light or occasional snoring that is not disruptive is usually treated by lifestyle changes such as:

  • losing weight
  • sleeping on your side
  • elevating your head slightly when sleeping
  • using nasal strips
  • avoiding alcohol, smoking or sedatives at night

Most light snoring does not disrupt your sleep and is not concerning enough to bother the bed partner significantly or warrant any other treatment.

Heavy and Disruptive Snoring

Heavy snorers can make it difficult for everyone in the house to get the proper amount of sleep. Heavy snoring can be helped but not completely cured by lifestyle changes. This level of snoring cannot be controlled by the person snoring or the position they sleep in. It is a more serious problem for the snorer, the bed partner and the family. Treatment options are available at TreasureCoast Snoring Solutions to resolve disruptive snoring.

The most common cause of heavy snoring is the soft palate (the roof of your mouth). This tissue becomes loose primarily due to aging and weight changes.The soft palate is the primary contributor in disruptive snoring 80% of the time. Other tissue may also be contributing to snoring and only a full examination by a doctor specializing in the treatment of snoring can determine the cause.

Treatments for Snoring Include:

  • Allergy treatment
  • Nasal procedures to correct a deviated septum or shrink tissue in the nose that is enlarged or inflamed
  • Pillar Procedure to stiffen the soft palate
  • Uvula tissue reduction
  • Oral appliance to move the lower jaw forward

Every patient is different, not all patients need each procedure. Dr. Colgan will determine the area(s)contributing to your snoring during an examination of your airway in the office and develop a custom treatment plan for you.Since the soft palate is the primary contributor in most patients, thePillar Procedure is sometimes the only procedure necessary to quiet the noise of snoring and allow you and your bed partner to get a good night’s sleep. To learn more about the Pillar Procedure, click here.