Chronic Loud Snoring

During regular breathing, air passes through the throat on its way to the lungs. The air moves past the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and tongue. When somebody is conscious, the muscles in the back of the throat stiffen to hold these structures in position keeping them from giving way into the airway. During rest, these structures can drop into the air passage stimulating loud snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring and disturbed or interrupted sleep patterns. Sleep apnea can have serious consequences including heart problems. Frequently patients will wake up in the morning with a headache. If they become sleep deprived they may feel sleepy all day, and could fall asleep while driving.

Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a sleep study. During a sleep study, the patient's breathing patterns, heart rhythm and brain waves are supervised.

If it is determined that sleep apnea is present, virtually all doctors recommend the use of CPAP. CPAP is a breathing device worn during sleep to help keep the air passage open and prevent loud snoring. In special situations surgery is recommended. The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with or without tonsillectomy are operations designed to open the airway. In unusual situations, a tracheotomy is needed. These are operations designed to sidestep this sleep related collapse of these structures.