We’ve all made the effort to burn the midnight oil occasionally, trying to either have a bit of fun or work to get an assignment done. But at some point, you must settle in and get a good night’s rest because not getting enough can affect your overall health. At least seven hours of sleep is the recommended amount for most adults to help with maintaining proper mental focus, energy, stress management, boosting your immune system, and keeping a proper body weight.
Now, if you’re sharing your bed with a partner with sleeping problems like snoring, it can make getting that precious rest more difficult. To help both you and your significant other get the rest you need, let’s examine the reasons people snore, the common causes, and what we can do to diagnose and treat it.
If you live in the Orlando or Kissimmee, Florida area, and you’re struggling with snoring, or you’re involved with someone who is, Drs. Wade Han, Elvira Livigni De Armas, and their dedicated medical staff at Florida Ear, Nose, Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center can help.
The various sounds we make that constitute snoring, such as snorting, grumbling, or rattling, are very common, affecting people of many different age groups, including children and even infants. It results from some sort of obstruction, making breathing more labored as you rest, specifically dealing with a blockage in the air passages in your nose and mouth, causing the tissue there to vibrate.
Aside from the previously mentioned sounds, other signs associated with snoring include quiet vibrations, tossing and turning during sleep, waking up with a dry or sore throat, daytime fatigue, headaches, moodiness, and problems trying to focus.
Most people snore every once in a while, but if you snore all the time with other symptoms, it can indicate other conditions. Here are some reasons you might snore as you sleep:
Dealing with snoring issues starts with gathering your medical history and a physical examination, where we can determine some basic evidence of airway blockage. Imaging tests (x-rays, MRIs, CT scans) and sleep studies can also help to form a diagnosis. Managing your snoring issues will depend on the cause, but treatment options include oral appliances, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, and lifestyle changes (reducing night drinking, not smoking, losing weight). Basic things you can do at home to reduce snoring include sleeping on your side, raising the head of your bed a few inches, starting a sleep schedule and sticking schedule, and nasal strips.
If you’re being kept up at night because of snoring, we know it can be frustrating, and we’re here to help. Make an appointment with Drs. Han, Livigni De Armas, and the team at Florida Ear Nose Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center today to sleep better and free of snoring.
