In snoring therapy, doctors often combine different approaches to ensure the quality of life and oxygen supply for those affected. Thanks to the various options available, it is now quite possible to tailor the therapy to the specific causes. For mild cases and at the beginning of treatment, doctors recommend adopting a healthier lifestyle.
This is because snoring is often caused by:
Patients often achieve significant improvement simply by losing weight and practicing better sleep hygiene. If that is not enough, doctors have various options available. Especially in cases of obstructive sleep apnea, mouth guards or ventilator therapies can alleviate symptoms.
If these therapies also fail, doctors turn to surgical procedures. The procedure is performed at the site where the snoring originates in each individual case. A relatively new approach is neurostimulation, in which a type of tongue pacemaker is implanted.
Many people snore, and some suffer greatly from it. That’s why there are so many ineffective remedies and tips: from nonsensical devices to anti-snoring sprays to putting a tennis ball in your pajamas to avoid sleeping on your back. The problem: They often do not improve sleep quality. Yet improving sleep quality is the goal of any effective sleep therapy. And not every therapy is suitable for every snorer.
Reasons to have snoring treated and examined include:
- Suffering from snoring
- Already diagnosed with sleep apnea syndrome
- Unexplained daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth and/or a sore throat in the morning
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult their primary care physician or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for help. This is because, for effective treatment, it is important that the treating physician understands the anatomical cause of the snoring.
Treatment is not necessary for snoring itself, but it is urgently needed for sleep apnea
Snoring is not a problem that requires medical treatment. Many people who snore want to stop primarily because of social pressure. If, for example, a partner is severely bothered by the nighttime noises, the snorer also experiences significant distress.
Snoring is often caused by vibrations in the palate and throat. This is made possible by muscle relaxation during sleep—which is why we don’t snore when we’re awake. In these mild cases that aren’t considered a medical condition, snoring therapy aims to prevent these vibrations and thus stop the snoring.
Breathing while snoring @ bilderzwerg /AdobeStock
In contrast, sleep apnea requires treatment because, in severe cases, it can even have life-threatening consequences. In addition, the risk of secondary conditions such as diabetes is increased due to the persistently low oxygen levels in the blood. Nearly half of untreated patients die within ten years.
For this reason, those affected should not take this condition lightly. Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that may or may not be accompanied by snoring.
During sleep, the circular muscles surrounding the upper airway relax. In people with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), the throat cannot withstand the negative pressure created during inhalation. As a result, the upper part of the airway collapses. It collapses like a plastic straw that a child sucks on while covering one end. This blocks the airway and causes oxygen saturation to drop. A protective response by the body to the rising CO2 levels causes those affected to wake up repeatedly. Due to these interruptions, sleep is no longer restful.
Snoring therapy employs and combines various approaches. At the core is a healthier lifestyle. Good sleep hygiene also helps reduce snoring. Therapies aimed at preventing the patient from sleeping on their back are controversial, as they do not improve sleep quality. Sleeping on one’s back is usually not the sole cause of snoring.
The best treatment for sleep apnea is nasal positive airway pressure (nCPAP). The patient wears a breathing mask that uses a blower to pump ambient air into the airways. This positive pressure keeps the airways open. If the patient has healthy teeth and gums, doctors may fit a protrusion splint that shifts the lower jaw forward by a few millimeters. This prevents the base of the tongue from falling back, keeping the airways clear. Such protrusion splints are often the first line of sleep therapy and frequently provide significant relief.
If these treatments do not sufficiently reduce snoring, various surgical procedures remain an option. Surgery on the nose alone does not alleviate the problem in most cases. Much more promising is the forward repositioning of the upper and lower jaws, which has a similar effect to the protrusion splint.
Tonsillectomy combined with simultaneous tightening of the soft palate is also a relatively common surgical procedure for treating snoring. Neurostimulation procedures (NSHG) offer cause for hope. They are often effective even in patients for whom other treatment attempts have failed. These so-called tongue pacemakers stimulate a nerve called the hypoglossal nerve, causing the tongue to extend forward.
Doctors recommend that patients lead a healthy lifestyle, regardless of whether they undergo surgery. This is because being overweight reduces the likelihood of surgical success and is even a contraindication for some procedures. Exercise, good sleep hygiene, and a healthy diet help prevent snoring and ensure the success of treatment.
Promoting Sleep Hygiene:
- Elevated upper body / Sleeping on your side
- Room temperature between 14 and 18 degrees
- Regular bedtimes, even on weekends
- No alcohol three hours before bedtime
- No sleeping pills or sedatives
- Don’t eat a heavy dinner
Conservative therapies generally have a high success rate, though patients respond to them to varying degrees. For many patients, the protrusion splint is significantly more popular than a ventilator because it requires much less adjustment. Either way, when it comes to snoring therapy, it’s important for patients to establish new habits. Only then can the therapies be successful in the long term.
About 57 percent of men and 40 percent of women snore @ WavebreakmediaMicro /AdobeStock
The options for treating snoring have evolved over the past few decades. In many cases, doctors can therefore help those affected quickly and without surgery. A thorough examination and diagnosis are essential to finding a treatment that is effective for the individual’s specific causes. However, in most cases, sleep therapy is never truly “finished.”
Instead, those affected integrate it into their lives, thereby preventing health complications and the need for surgery. Because restful sleep improves their quality of life, many people are able to stay on track. Complications occur primarily with surgical procedures.
Possible side effects include:
- abnormal sensations
- A sensation of a foreign body in the throat or
- difficulty swallowing
However, thanks to minimally invasive procedures, the risk is lower today than it was a few years ago. And the chances of success are also good for surgical procedures. For example, the success rate for tonsillectomy combined with palatal tightening is around 50 percent.
As a result, the overall prognosis is good: With the help of a competent doctor, most people can find the right treatment for them and overcome snoring and sleep apnea.
What is snoring therapy?
Snoring therapy encompasses various measures for treating snoring and snoring accompanied by breathing pauses. Depending on the cause of the snoring, conservative methods, a snoring mouthguard, or surgical procedures may be used. The goal is to improve breathing during sleep and reduce disruptive snoring noises.
When is snoring a sign of sleep apnea?
If snoring is accompanied by pauses in breathing, breathing cessation, or breathing interruptions, this may indicate obstructive sleep apnea or sleep apnea syndrome. Typical symptoms include daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and non-restorative sleep. Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How does an anti-snoring mouthpiece work?
A snoring mouthguard, also known as a mandibular advancement splint, gently moves the lower jaw and tongue forward. This keeps the upper airways more open and makes breathing easier. This therapy is often used for primary snoring or mild obstructive sleep apnea and can significantly reduce snoring.
When is it necessary to see a specialist or visit a sleep lab?
You should consult a specialist if snoring is disruptive, if you experience pauses in breathing at night, or if your sleep quality is significantly impaired. A sleep lab examines apneas, breathing disorders, and oxygen levels. Based on the diagnostic results, a customized snoring treatment for sleep apnea may be recommended.
What treatment options are available for sleep apnea?
Treatment options for snoring include weight loss for those who are overweight, avoiding alcohol consumption, adjusting sleep position to avoid sleeping on one’s back, using a mandibular advancement splint, a CPAP machine, or surgical procedures involving the soft palate, base of the tongue, throat, and lower jaw. Treatment is tailored to the anatomical cause and often improves physical and mental performance.
