Snoring

Snoring is a condition that affects 45% of normal adults and can be a signal that something is wrong with your breathing during sleep.

Snoring is bothersome to others, but can also indicate a more serious health condition. 

Causes of Snoring

Snoring can be a sign of something serious like sleep apnea or it can be caused by a number of other factors, such as anatomy, weight, or alcohol use. 

Common causes of snoring:

• Sleep apnea
• Nasal congestion due to allergies or illness
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids 
• Deformities of the nose
• Long soft palate and uvula 
• Poor muscle tone 
• Alcohol or sleeping pills

Non-surgical Treatment Options for Snoring

In-office treatment options are performed under local anesthesia and include radiofrequency soft palate treatment and injection snoreplasty. 

• Radiofrequency Soft Palate Treatment -- a procedure that uses plasma energy to stiffen portions of the soft palate. 
• Injection Snoreplasty -- a procedure that involves injecting a “hardening agent” into the soft palate to reduce snoring. 

Surgical Treatment Options for Snoring

Sometimes a surgical procedure is needed to remedy snoring issues, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy and/or general nasal surgery. Surgical treatments are outpatient procedures, performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. 

• Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy -- removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids. 
  For more information, visit our Tonsils & Adenoids page.
• Nasal Surgery -- includes septoplasty and polyp removal