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Snoring Specialist

Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C.

Board Certified Otolaryngologist & Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Specialists located in Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA & Cumming, GA

If your loud, persistent snoring is keeping your family awake at night, Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. can help. At their two offices in Atlanta, Georgia, experienced otolaryngologists Ramie A. Tritt, MD, provides customized, in-office solutions for chronic snoring and related sleep apnea, including noninvasive and surgical procedures to help you get better-quality sleep. Learn more about treatments available for snoring by calling the Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. office nearest you, or book an appointment online today.

Snoring Q & A

What causes snoring?

Snoring is often the result when the soft palate, the muscles in the roof of your mouth, relax enough to block your airway when you’re in deep sleep. Air moving past the muscles causes them to vibrate and produce the snoring sound.

The narrower your airway is due to the obstruction, the more the tissues vibrate and the louder your snoring becomes.

You may also be more susceptible to snoring due to:

  • Colds
  • Allergies
  • Obesity
  • Sinus conditions

The use of alcohol can also relax your soft palate and lead to a blockage that causes snoring.

What are the symptoms of snoring?

You may not realize you snore until your loved ones tell you. However, you may experience other common issues that often accompany snoring, such as:

Snoring can also increase your risk for chronic health conditions, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. For these reasons, it’s important that you schedule an evaluation with the team at Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C.

How is snoring diagnosed?

To better understand your snoring, your provider takes time to review your personal and family medical history. They also perform a physical exam and discuss your lifestyle and sleep habits.

Your physician may request a computed tomography (CT) scan or an X-ray to get a better look at the structures of your mouth, including your soft palate.

If your provider expects that your snoring relates to sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to periodically stop breathing while you sleep, you may need to undergo a sleep study to monitor your oxygen levels, heart rate, and other vital information about your sleep patterns.

How is snoring treated?

The team at Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. initially may work with you on lifestyle changes to help reduce the frequency and severity of your snoring. These changes may include:

  • Losing weight
  • Avoiding alcohol
  • Quitting smoking
  • Sleeping on your side

You may also benefit from nasal strips that help keep your airways open throughout the night to improve your breathing.

If these treatments aren’t enough to calm your snoring, you may need an oral appliance that keeps your jaw in a forward position to prevent airway obstructions.

Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. also offers pillar implants, tiny inserts in your soft palate to provide support. This procedure is done in-office, and you go home the same day.

In severe cases of snoring and sleep apnea, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery to remove excess tissue from your throat.

If your family complains about your chronic and loud snoring, don’t delay a diagnostic evaluation. Call the Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. office nearest you or request a consultation online today.