Sleep & snoring

You know what snoring is, right?

Snoring is noisy breathing during sleep.  If you snore, you may experience poor quality sleep.  If your partner snores, your sleep may be constantly interrupted.  Either way, someone suffers.

You are at a greater risk of snoring if you are male or overweight, but snoring is common among all ages and both genders.

Snoring is a common condition, affecting approximately 90 million American adults, with 37 million experiencing it regularly, according to the National Sleep Foundation.¹ The disruptions and lower quality of sleep resulting from snoring lead to daytime tiredness, sleepiness, and decreased productivity

A number of factors can contribute to snoring*:
  • Normal aging and relaxation of the throat muscles
  • Anatomical abnormalities - nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils or adenoids
  • Functional abnormalities - inflammation of the nose and/or throat from respiratory infection or allergy
  • Sleep position
  • Alcohol ingestion in the evening
Two people lying in bed, one awake and holding a book, the other asleep under a checkered blanket.

What About Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is defined as pauses (apneas) in breathing during sleep, due to blockage of the upper airway, and is accompanied by a drop in oxygen saturation.

People with obstructive sleep apnea are often not aware of their breathing problem until a sleeping partner or family member informs them of their episodic symptoms and abnormal breathing pattern during sleep.  Generally, OSA is a serious medical condition that over time may have multiple negative effects on a person’s body and overall health, well-being, and quality of life.  OSA negatively affects the health of tens of thousands of Americans every year.

Common symptoms of OSA can include:

  • excessive daytime sleepiness
  • waking repeatedly at night
  • loud snoring
  • intervals of silence during sleep followed by gasps
  • jerking or restless legs during sleep

Less common symptoms can be unexplained weight gain, difficulty concentrating forgetfulness, diminished sex drive, alterations in mood like grouchiness, anxiety, or depression

These factors can increase your risk for OSA:

  • the aging process
  • being overweight
  • regular use of chemical depressants (alcohol and sedative medications)
  • family history of OSA
  • smoking
Business professional in a white shirt holding a clipboard in an office setting with colleagues in the background.

While you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward, and your throat becomes narrow and "floppy."  When this happens, the walls of the throat vibrate with the airflow as you breathe.  These vibrations lead to the characteristic sound of snoring.

If the walls of the throat collapse completely so that the throat is completely occluded, a condition called apnea (cessation of breathing) results.  This is a serious condition that requires medical attention.  Loud snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that requires medical evaluation for accurate diagnosis.

What can I do about OSA?

Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea varies based on individual needs. Consulting with an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist can help determine the most appropriate approach.

A combination of multiple treatment methods may be considered, including:

  • Behavior Modifications

    Losing weight, adjusting sleeping positions, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and sedative use.

  • Oral Appliances

    Designed to hold your jaw slightly down and forward to improve breathing.

  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

    Often the first line of treatment for OSA.  It uses a system to deliver a steady, pressure-controlled amount of air to keep your airway open while you sleep.

  • Additional Positive Pressure Delivery Systems

    Variable positive airway pressure (VPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), and automatic positive airway pressure (APAP)

  • Surgical Intervention

    When CPAP and other methods of treatment prove unsuccessful to treat your OSA.

Illustration of airway during normal breathing, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

If left untreated, OSA may contribute to health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and daytime fatigue. Early evaluation and treatment can help mitigate these risks.

  • heart disease
  • high blood pressure
  • stroke
  • obesity
  • depression
  • diabetes
  • premature death
  • auto accidents

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that requires medical attention as soon as possible.  Proper diagnosis, treatment, and management of OSA by a qualified Ear Nose & Throat specialist like Dr. Trimble can minimize or help you avoid serious health consequences as well as improve your quality of sleep and overall well-being.

If you suspect you or a loved one suffers from snoring or OSA, call us today for an evaluation.
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Footnotes

¹National Sleep Foundation. “Snoring.” SleepFoundation.org. Accessed June 2025. [https://www.sleepfoundation.org/snoring]