Snoring at night may mean you are suffering from bad sleep quality. It is a major indicator of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Snoring occurs when your body cannot move air freely through the nose and throat due to a partial closure of your upper airway. There are four types of snoring and each of them comes with their own triggers. It is important to learn about the different types and determine which you may be suffering from to address them effectively.
1. Mouth snoring
Mouth snoring occurs when an individual inhales air through the mouth instead of the nose while sleeping. This may be due to nose blockage, causing a vibration of the tissues. Infections may happen when you breathe through the mouth as your nose is not filtering the air that’s passing through.
Treatments/ solutions:
To combat this, it is advisable to use devices such as an adhesive tape specially designed to treat mouth snoring, or mouth guards to help keep your mouth closed. Meanwhile, you can also tap or stitch a tennis ball to the back of your sleepwear to prevent yourself from sleeping on your back, reducing the likelihood of snoring. If the problem persists, do seek professional snoring treatments in Singapore.
2. Nasal snoring
Also known as nose-based snoring, nasal snoring occurs when there is a blockage in the nostrils caused by a deviated septum or other physical obstructions. Those with nose stiffness, pet and dust allergies, colds or are on certain types of medication, tend to suffer from this type of snoring.
Treatments/ solutions:
Surgery is effective to treat a deviated septum, while ensuring your home’s cleanliness may help address snoring caused by dust allergy. For nasal snoring caused by colds or stiffness, the use of nasal dilator strips or a nasal rinse may be ideal. Quitting smoking is one of the ways to combat this problem as well.
3. Tongue snoring
Tongue snoring occurs when the tongue is too relaxed, especially when we lie on our backs, blocking airflow entering the lungs. This snoring tends to be more common among those who drink alcohol or use sleep medication. However, excessive fat around the neck may also be the cause.
Treatments/ solutions:
Using anti-snoring pillows and backpacks can be helpful for this type of snoring. They prevent breathing difficulties by keeping you on your side, instead of turning on your back, which may block airflow into your lungs. Apart from that, snoring mouthpieces or mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are also a remedy for tongue snorers, moving your jaw forward to prevent the tongue from blocking the back of your throat. It is recommended to go for snoring treatments in Singapore if the condition remains or worsens.
4. Throat snoring
This type of snoring is the loudest and most dangerous. It results from sleep apnea, a condition where an individual stops breathing several times while sleeping. This occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat area are too relaxed. You may feel choked or start to cough when you stop breathing, a sign of your body attempting to open up your airway. Worse still, you may be awakened from your sleep due to discomfort. Throat snoring can happen in every sleeping position. If left untreated, it can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.
Treatments/ solutions:
To treat throat snoring, it is advisable to cure sleep apnea first as it is the root cause. Sleep apnea requires timely medical attention. The most common treatment methods include UAS therapy, CPAP therapy and UPAP therapy.
Learn more: Exploring the Different Types of Sleep Apnea
Understanding the causes above will help you to determine which type of snorer you are. Snoring is curable with the right treatment. Some remedies can be as simple as making changes to diet and other habits, while some may require surgical procedures.
At ENT Surgeons Dr Dennis Chua, we strive to diagnose ENT conditions and treat our patients accurately. Suffering from snoring problems or sinusitis? Or simply want to know more about your rhinoplasty options? Give us a call today or visit ENT Doctor Mount Elizabeth for more information.
