05 Oct Snoring surgery: finally sleeping peacefully again

What happens when you snore?

Snoring causes disturbing noises due to the vibrations of slack tissue in the throat and palate area when breathing in and out during sleep.
The exact causes and mechanisms of snoring are varied and differ from person to person.

The most common factors that play a role in snoring are

Relaxation of the throat muscles

During sleep, the muscles in the throat and palate relax. This causes the soft tissues in this area to contract more tightly. When the air flows past these relaxed tissues during inhalation, the characteristic snoring noises are produced.

Constricted airways

Some people's airways are naturally narrower. They can also be narrowed due to anatomical conditions such as an enlarged tongue or tonsils. In these cases, the air flows past with more pressure, causing snoring.

Overweight

Excessive weight can cause an increased accumulation of fatty tissue in the throat and pharynx area. This can further constrict your airways.

Alcohol and sedative medication

The consumption of alcohol or certain medications that relax the muscles can increase snoring. They can Throat muscles even more slack.

Sleeping position

If you sleep on your back, you may be more prone to snoring. This is due to the fact that gravity pushes the soft tissues in the throat area backwards. This narrows the airways.

What consequences can night-time snoring have?

Loud snoring can affect the quality of your own sleep and that of your partner. Common consequences are lack of sleep and daytime sleepiness, which are accompanied by concentration difficulties and reduced performance. Snoring can also cause you to sleep with your mouth open, which promotes dry mouth, a sore throat or even infections.

Chronic snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnoea, a serious sleep disorder that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and other health problems.

Treating snoring: Options without surgery

Lifestyle changes

• Weight loss
  For overweight people, losing weight can help to reduce snoring, as this can reduce the accumulation of fatty tissue in the throat and pharynx area.
• Sleeping position
  Sleeping on your side instead of your back can reduce snoring in some people.

Avoidance of alcohol and sleeping pills

Alcohol and certain medications can affect the muscle tension in the throat, which can lead to increased snoring. Avoiding these substances before going to bed can be helpful.

Snoring splint

You wear this appliance in your mouth like a kind of brace. They are designed to change the position of your tongue and lower jaw to keep your airways open.

Nasal strips and nasal sprays

These products can help to open the nasal passages and make breathing easier if your snoring is due to nasal problems.

Surgical interventions

• Snoring operation
  If snoring is causing you significant health or social problems, snoring surgery may be advisable - even if other treatment methods have not been sufficiently effective.
• Rhinoplasty
  Snoring can occur with various nasal problems, e.g. with a curved nasal septum, Nasal polyps or one Nasal concha hyperplasia. In these cases, a Rhinoplastya Nasal septum surgerya Paranasal sinus surgery or the Laser conchotomy help. We offer all of these treatments at our ENT clinic in Frankfurt.

Snoring surgery in Frankfurt for an oversized or floppy palate

An oversized or sagging palate can lead to heavy snoring - especially if you sleep on your back. In such cases, we offer various surgical techniques to tighten or reduce the size of the posterior palate.

If an enlarged uvula is the cause of snoring, we can use the uvula flap technique. This involves lifting the uvula on your palate, reattaching it and suturing it.

Uvula palato pharyngoplasty is a common snoring operation in which we incise the mucous membrane in your palate, throat and uvula area, tighten it and stitch it back together. This tightening of the palate prevents constriction of the upper airways during sleep. We can also perform this operation at the same time as the removal of palatine tonsils.

Snoring surgery in Frankfurt

Snoring can be extremely stressful - for you and your relationship. It is not uncommon for snoring and humming to lead to separate bedrooms. If you suffer from regular snoring, you are welcome to make an appointment with us. In our ENT clinic in Frankfurt we will examine you carefully and recommend a therapy tailored to your individual needs. Together we can tackle your snoring problems and improve your quality of life.

ENT Frankfurt: Dr Thomas Fischer & Dr Albrecht Linke

Your specialists for ear, nose and throat medicine, who will provide you with professional and individualised advice, examinations and treatment in all matters relating to ENT medicine, functional plastic surgery and the aesthetic treatment of changes to the facial skin.

Our news articles are prepared for you to the best of our knowledge and belief and are intended for general education. They are in no way a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis and treatment and are not intended to encourage self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Please always contact your ENT specialist in Frankfurt directly if you have any health complaints!

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