Snoring can disrupt your sleep, leave you feeling exhausted during the day, and strain relationships with loved ones. At Surgical Associates Northwest, our ENTs take a thoughtful, patient-first approach to your care, identifying the underlying cause of your snoring and offering personalized, effective solutions to help you rest easier and feel more like yourself again.
Waking up Tired Despite a Full Night’s Sleep?
Snoring happens when airflow through your nose or throat becomes partially blocked during sleep, causing the surrounding tissues to vibrate and create sound. It can range from mild and occasional to loud and persistent. Snoring often affects your sleep quality and your partner’s, and may leave you feeling tired or unfocused during the day. While common, ongoing snoring can sometimes signal underlying issues such as nasal blockage, relaxed throat muscles, or more serious sleep-related conditions that deserve medical attention.
Signs & Symptoms of Snoring
Snoring can show up in different ways and may affect both your sleep and your daily life.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Loud or chronic nighttime breathing noises
- Frequent awakenings during the night
- Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Restless or poor-quality sleep
- Complaints from a bed partner about disrupted sleep
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring occurs when airflow through the nose or throat becomes narrowed during sleep, causing the surrounding tissues to vibrate. This narrowing often happens when the muscles of the soft palate, tongue, or throat relax too much, or when structural issues limit airflow. Understanding the cause is key to choosing the right treatment.
Common causes of snoring include:
- Relaxation of throat and tongue muscles during sleep
- Nasal congestion or obstruction limiting airflow
- Enlarged tonsils or elongated soft palate
- Sleeping on your back causing airway collapse
- Excess weight, which increases pressure around the airway
- Obstructive sleep apnea, which affects breathing during sleep
Your Snoring Treatment Experience
Your care begins with a thorough, one-on-one consultation focused on understanding how snoring is affecting your sleep, health, and daily life. At Surgical Associates Northwest, our ENTs take time to review your symptoms, sleep habits, and medical history, then examine your nose, throat, and airway anatomy. If needed, we may recommend imaging or a sleep study to identify contributing factors such as airway narrowing or sleep apnea. From there, we build a personalized treatment plan to address the root cause of your snoring.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances are custom-fit devices worn in your mouth during sleep to help keep your airway open. These appliances gently reposition your lower jaw and tongue forward, which reduces airway collapse and tissue vibration. During your visit, your ENT evaluates whether your jaw position, tongue size, or airway anatomy makes you a good candidate. If appropriate, you’re fitted for a device that is comfortable, easy to wear, and tailored to your bite.
Upper Airway Surgery
Upper airway surgery focuses on correcting structural issues that contribute to snoring and airway obstruction. Depending on your anatomy, this may involve tightening or removing excess tissue in the throat, addressing nasal blockages, repositioning the jaw, or using radiofrequency energy to shrink obstructive tissue. These procedures are carefully planned to improve airflow, reduce vibration, and create lasting relief when other treatments fail.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (Cpap)
CPAP therapy uses a small bedside machine that delivers a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask worn over your nose or mouth while you sleep. This airflow keeps your airway from collapsing, preventing snoring and breathing interruptions associated with sleep apnea. If CPAP is recommended, your ENT helps determine the correct pressure settings and mask style for comfort. With proper fitting, CPAP can significantly improve sleep and reduce snoring.
Snoring FAQs
Is Snoring Always a Medical Problem?
Not always. Occasional snoring can happen due to congestion, sleep position, or temporary fatigue. However, if you snore loudly or frequently, or wake up feeling drained and tired, it may signal an underlying airway issue that warrants evaluation.
Can Snoring Be a Sign of Sleep Apnea?
Yes. Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. If your snoring is loud, irregular, or followed by pauses in breathing, gasping, or choking at night, a sleep study may be recommended to diagnose potential sleep apnea.
Why Does Snoring Get Worse as You Age?
As you get older, the muscles in your throat naturally lose tone. This can allow the airway to narrow more easily during sleep, increasing vibration and noise.
Does Sleeping Position Affect Snoring?
Absolutely. Sleeping on your back allows the tongue and soft tissues to fall backward, narrowing the airway. Many people notice less snoring when sleeping on their side.
Why Choose Surgical Associates Northwest?
Surgical Associates Northwest is an ENT practice that has been serving the Auburn and Federal Way communities for over 40 years. Our ENTs are known for their easy availability and personalized care, offering timely appointments without the long waits of hospital-based ENT groups. You receive attentive, unrushed care from experienced specialists who take the time to understand your concerns and treatment goals. If snoring is affecting your sleep or quality of life, schedule a consultation in Auburn or Federal Way, WA, today.
