Stop Snroing – Baytown, TX
Snoring — More than a Nuisance
There is no denying that snoring is annoying. It could disturb your sleeping partner, make you the center of jokes, and even earn you a spot on the couch every night. But snoring in Baytown is more than just a nuisance. In fact, as you’ll discover here, snoring can actually point to much more serious problems. If you struggle with chronic snoring, it is in your best interests to visit Dr. Dean Hutto for a consultation so you can end the nighttime stop snoring in Baytown, TX and perhaps even improve your health!
What Is Snoring?
Snoring occurs when air brushes past the tissues at the back of your throat, causing them to vibrate. Snoring can vary in volume, from a soft, almost cute noise, to a loud sound that is reminiscent of a chainsaw. Although snoring is more common in men than it is in women, it can affect members of both genders.
For some individuals, snoring is a temporary condition that occurs when they drink alcohol too close to bedtime, have a cold, or are dealing with seasonal allergies. In such cases, snoring may not be a major concern. You may be able to stop it by adjusting your alcohol consumption, sleeping on your side rather than your back, or using medication to relieve nasal congestion. In other cases, snoring is a chronic, ongoing problem. It may even point to the existence of sleep apnea in Baytown.
Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), tissues in the mouth, such as the tongue or soft palate, block the airway during sleep and lead to pauses in breathing. Those pauses in breathing disrupt the quality of sleep and make it impossible for individuals with OSA to get the rest they need to function and feel their best. OSA has been associated with a number of serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and depression.
Chronic, loud snoring is often one of the telltale signs of OSA. Therefore, if your partner complains that you snore, you shouldn’t just shrug off the problem. A consultation with a sleep medicine expert could be the key to finding out why you snore and whether you are at risk for the serious health issues that OSA can cause.
Treatment for Snoring
Chronic snoring does not always point to OSA, and some individuals with OSA do not snore. However, that doesn’t mean you should not consider the possibility that you have a sleep disorder. Dr. Hutto can arrange for you to undergo an at-home sleep study, which will provide him with insight into the quality of your sleep and the cause of your snoring.
Whether or not you have OSA, Dr. Hutto can provide you with a custom oral appliance (which resembles a mouthguard for sports) that will gently reposition your jaw at night, allowing for freer airflow. The unhindered airflow, in turn, will eliminate snoring and help you enjoy quieter, higher-quality sleep. Both you and your partner will be grateful for the relief!