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Everyone needs sleep, but with over 80 types of that affect the quality and amount of rest you get, over 50 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of it. On top of that, over 100 million complain of general sleeping issues. 

Sleep issues affect us in many ways, including insomnia, breathing difficulties, circadian rhythm problems, parasomnias, and movement disorders. 

Snoring is also a very common problem. Data from the patient page indicates as many as 90 million Americans snore on occasion and 37 million struggle on a regular basis. 

Snoring alone may not be serious, but chronic issues can indicate underlying problems with your health that need to be addressed. If you live in the Chicago, Illinois, area and struggle with sleep problems, our Michigan Avenue Â鶹´«Ã½ team can help identify the cause of your trouble and treat it so you can get better rest.

The reasons we snore

refers to the unpleasant noises you make while you sleep, namely, the grumbling, snorting, or rattling that happens while you’re trying to breathe. This results from an airway obstruction in your nose, mouth, or throat and specifically affects the air that moves against your tonsils, tongue, and adenoids. Snoring is affected by several factors:

• Age: as you get older and lose muscle tone, your airway shrinks
• Sedatives: alcohol and some drugs relax your throat muscles
• Family history: this problem can be hereditary
• Health: upper respiratory conditions can affect your sinuses and throat
• Weight: being overweight or obese can lead to tissue blocking your airway

Problems with constant snoring

If you’re dealing with regular or excessive snoring along with symptoms like morning headaches, daytime fatigue, loud snoring, hypertension, and feeling tired even after at least seven hours of sleep, is likely the cause. 

OSA is a sleep disorder that causes interruptions in your sleep when obstructions stop your breathing several times and keep you from going into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. 

In addition to the symptoms listed above, OSA can also increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Other issues that can lead to constant snoring include underactive thyroid, abnormal tonsil size, excessive growth hormone production, and anatomical abnormalities in your nose or mouth.

Treatment options

with snoring depends on the source of your problem and its severity. Methods may include:

• A dental mouthpiece: repositions your soft palate and tongue
• A palatal implant: a device placed in the roof of your mouth to reduce snoring
• A CPAP machine: a device with a mask that directs pressurized air
• Surgery: septoplasty or laser surgery can help correct problems with snoring

If you’re struggling with constant snoring and need to get it under control, call our office or book an appointment online today with our team at Michigan Avenue Â鶹´«Ã½.