Snoring – Dallas, TX

It’s Not Just a “You” Problem

Want to stop snoring? Typically, snoring increases in frequency and intensity with every decade of our lives. Snoring occurs in children when large tonsils and adenoids are present. By age 20, approximately 20% of men and 10% of women are snoring. After 60, almost 60% of men snore most nights and approximately 35-40% of women are snoring to the same degree. The sleep specialists here at SMAT can help you stop snoring no matter your age. We offer a variety of snoring solutions to help you find a snoring cure that could include weight loss, sleep position training, specialized nasal valves, oral snore devices, oral positioning appliances, and CPAP therapy. Treatment typically includes a consultation with a doctor, a prescription, or an overnight sleep study at our sleep clinic depending on the individual case. The likelihood that our sleep study will identify significant sleep apnea in a normal snorer is around 10-15%.

Health Risks:

While not generally a health risk in most people, simple snoring can be a symptom of other issues, such as:

  • Slightly greater chances of increased blood pressure
  • Loss of sleep for both the snorer and their sleep partner

Snoring Treatments:

  • Treat allergies
  • Stop sleeping on your back
  • Avoid alcohol 2 hours before bedtime

Disruptive Snoring

Disruptive or abnormal snoring disrupts the sleep of a sleep partner. The sleep partner may intervene by turning the snorer over, sleeping in another room, or wearing earplugs. This kind of snoring problem may also manifest as intermittent snorting sounds.

The doctors at Sleep Medicine Associates of Texas have snoring solutions to stop disruptive snoring. Testing has shown that 25-35% of abnormal snorers have sleep apnea.

Health Risks:

While not generally a health risk in most people, abnormal snoring may lead to other issues, such as:

  • Separate bedrooms
  • Obesity
  • Higher blood pressure
  • Unexplained fatigue or sleepiness

Snoring Treatments:

Several underlying conditions can cure disruptive snoring and include:

  • Screening test for sleep apnea
  • Weight loss advice
  • Allergy treatment
  • Sleep positioning training
  • Oral appliance therapy
  • Eliminate alcohol in the 2 hours before sleep
  • Referral to Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) surgeon to determine if there are any structural abnormalities of the nose or sinuses

Dangerous Snoring

Dangerous snoring is the snoring that results in the interruption of breathing. Stoppages in breathing usually indicate the health problem of sleep apnea/hypopnea. Choking, gasping, and snorting may also occur when the individual has held his or her breath for a few seconds and then must wake up to again start breathing. The trained doctors at Sleep Medicine Associates of Texas can offer effective snoring solutions for dangerous snoring. Testing has shown that 50-90% of dangerous snorers have sleep apnea.

Health Risks

Individuals with dangerous snoring often are very restless at night and wake up feeling tired and sleepy during the day. This condition can also cause or worsen:

  • High blood pressure
  • Strokes
  • Heart attacks
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Failure
  • Arrhythmia
  • Falling

Snoring Treatments:

For the individual seeking a snoring cure, an overnight sleep study should be conducted. The degree of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea will determine the most effective snoring solutions.