Many adults snore from time to time, while some snore regularly. Frequent snoring is sometimes due to a sleep disorder called sleep apnea, a condition associated with brief pauses in breathing throughout the night. We treat snoring and sleep apnea at our offices in Munster, IN, and Olympia Fields, IL. Dr. Arthur Katz, our skilled ENT doctor, can determine if your snoring is due to sleep apnea and develop a treatment plan to help you stop snoring and sleep better.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder in which collapsed or blocked airways prevent air from reaching the lungs, resulting in temporary pauses in breathing. Reasons why the airway might become blocked while sleeping include tissues in the throat collapsing or the tongue rolling back. Individuals with a higher risk for developing sleep apnea include those who are overweight or obese, have high blood pressure, are middle-aged, or have a family history of the sleep disorder.

Just as a blocked airway can cause brief pauses in breathing, it can also contribute to snoring. When the soft tissues in the throat relax and collapse across the airway, they often vibrate as a person breathes in and out. The vibration of those tissues produces a snoring sound. The same thing can occur if the tongue rolls toward the back of the throat while sleeping.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Individuals with sleep apnea do not always realize they have the condition, but there are some signs you can watch for that could mean you have this sleep disorder. Some common symptoms associated with sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Pauses in breathing while sleeping
• Waking up choking or gasping for air
• Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth
• Irritability, depression, and difficulty concentrating
• Feeling sleepy or fatigued during the day
• Feeling unrested upon waking
• Headaches in the morning

Treatment Options

At our ENT office in Munster, IN, sleep apnea and snoring can be treated through several methods. Our experienced ENT doctor can recommend the right treatment for you.

Snoring associated with sleep apnea can often be treated by improving the flow of air while sleeping. One way to do this is with a custom oral appliance that is worn while sleeping. The oral appliance keeps the airway from becoming blocked by holding the lower jaw in a stable position. This helps stop snoring, as well as prevents pauses in breathing.

A traditional method for treating sleep apnea and its symptoms, including snoring, is CPAP therapy. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. Treatment involves the use of a machine that delivers a consistent stream of air pressure to the airway throughout the night to prevent it from collapsing.

If snoring due to sleep apnea is keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep, we can help. For the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea in Munster, IN, call our ENT office at (219) 769-8441 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Katz. Our Olympia Fields, IL, office can be reached at (708) 747-6900.