Snoring, while common too many, is most often a problem of middle-aged men, especially if they are obese. If necks have excess flesh, they are more likely to have muscles that collapse during sleep and cause breathing problems. While snoring is very common, and not a death threatening condition, it can cause serious problems that have snoring as their root cause.

What causes snoring?

Snoring is basically due to narrow air passages in between the throat and the nose. We snore while we are having a sound sleep as this passage narrows because of increased pressure of air from the mouth and back. Thus the snoring sound is due to the flapping muscles that start vibrating faster.

Snoring results whenever the respiratory passages are narrowed because the muscles along the passage relax. For example substances that causes muscles to relax will make the tongue fall back and will result in snoring. A cold can cause the nasal passages to become clogged, and obstruct free flow of air while breathing. This condition may also produce snoring, which however is limited to the duration of the cold or inflamed sinuses.

Snoring is mainly caused by the position that the patient sleeps in. When sleeping on your back it may cause your throat and tongue muscles to be pulled back by gravity. Hence it is advised that you sleep in a sideward position. As the only problem here is the unwanted relaxing of muscles and tissues, the most possible cure is to remove any excess skind via surgery.

A specialist that practices with conditions that are directly linked to problems with the ear, nose and throat is called an otolaryngologist. He or she is the authority that can make a thorough assessment of your condition. He may perform an uvulopalatoharyngoplasty, or UPPP, to widen the air passages of the throat by removing excess tissues that cause the narrowing and difficulty in breathing while asleep. He or she may remove uvula tissue, adenoids and tonsils that are covered by the pharynx, as well.

The muscles that prohibit normal air passages can be removed using an intensive version of laser named laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty or LAUP. Both the methods work best for mild snores. They don’t necessarily work for those who are suffering from sleep apnea or disruptive snoring. On the other hand, if snoring is caused by unnecessary blockages in the nasal septum then nasal surgery is recommended.

The Tongue Suspension Procedure helps to prevent the tongue from falling back in the throat by attaching the tongue to a small screw that is inserted into the lower jaw. Another method is Somnoplasty, in which the tissues are contracted by inserting an electrode that passes a current into the tissues, causing re-absorption of the excess tissues.

While an operation will likely remove the cause of snoring, there are still attendant risks. Your doctor will be able to recommend the best solution for your particular condition.