Capio Winfield Hospital
Tewkesbury Road
Longford
Gloucester
GL2 9WH
Tel: 01452 331111
Fax: 01452 331200
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Mechanics & Treatment of Snoring
 Snoring
Snoring is caused by the collapse and obstruction of the upper airways during sleep. This causes vibration of the soft tissues which results in the snore.
Factors contributing to snoring
One of the most important factors in snoring is weight. People who are overweight are much more likely to snore and by reducing their weight the snoring will often reduce. Collar size is an important measure and people with a collar size of 16.5 or above are much more likely to snore.
Snoring will also be increased by alcohol and smoking.
As people get older they are more likely to snore.
Assessment
To successfully treat snoring we need to know the site of the obstruction. This can be at the palate level, at the back of the tongue, or from the side wall of the throat. A blocked nose at night can also contribute to snoring.
In the clinic we determine the site of snoring by a careful history and examination, and by passing a small telescope through the nose into the throat (flexible nasendoscopy).
We will also measure your height and weight to calculate your body mass index (BMI).
Treatment
The treatment offered depends on the site of the snoring.
Treatments can be offered to unblock the nose or tighten the soft palate to reduce vibration.
Coblation
Coblation is a treatment to tighten the soft palate and reduce the snoring. If it is felt to be the correct treatment we can perform this in the outpatients at the first visit. It involves having a local anaesthetic injected into the palate, (similar to going to the dentist). A probe is then passed into the palate which will cause the palate to tighten up and reduce snoring.
Treatment Success
No treatment for snoring is 100% successful. The success rate decreases with time and especially if weight increases.
Sleep Apneoa
Sleep apnoea is a condition where the airways collapse and breathing ceases for a few seconds at a time. It is most commonly caused by obstruction and is related to snoring. In its severest form it is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Diagnosis
Sleep apnoea is properly diagnosed by undergoing a sleep study and measuring oxygen concentration in the blood during sleep.
People with sllepp apnaoe will fell tired during the day and we can check for sleep apnoea by using a simple questionnaire called and Epworth Score.
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