The disruptive sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the flow of air at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the soft part of the airway where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate. Snoring occurs when these structures vibrate during breathing.

Following an examination we can asses if the snoring is caused by a nasal allergy, infection, deformity or tonsils and adenoids. Treatment can then be offered to improve your situation. The most common treatment for snoring is the development of a custom-made device that is worn by you during sleep.

Snoring in children is a distinct sign of airway obstruction and is closely linked with other problems such as ADHD, bed wetting and eczema. If snoring is detected early it can be treated by means of orthopaedic and orthodontic intervention.

If you would like to know more about the treatment available for snoring, please contact our practice. It’s important to know that your situation can be improved to give you and your partner a better night sleep.

Sleep Apnoea

When loud snoring is interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing, it is known as obstructive sleep apnoea. Serious episodes last more than ten seconds each and occur more than seven times per hour. Apnoea patients may experience 30 to 300 such events per night. These episodes can reduce blood oxygen levels, causing the heart to pump harder.

The immediate effect of sleep apnoea is the snorer must sleep lightly and keep their muscles tense in order to maintain airflow to the lungs. After many years with this disorder, elevated blood pressure and heart enlargement may occur.

 

 

Some common symptoms of sleep apnoea:

• Choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs
• Loud snoring
• Feeling unrefreshed in the morning after waking
• Sudden awakenings to restart breathing
• Daytime sleepiness/ lethargy
• Waking up in a sweat during the night
• Headaches, sore throat or dry mouth after waking

Treatment for this condition is available. If we think you may be suffering from this potentially life threatening condition, we will refer you to our specialist sleep centre.

Please contact our practice to know more.