Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Sleep Medicine
The physicians of ENT Partners of Texas are board certified in sleep medicine and are committed to help North Texans get a better night’s sleep.
Over 45% of normal adults snore at least occasionally and 25% are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and those who are overweight. Snoring may be an indication of obstructed breathing and should not be taken lightly. An ENT Partners of Texas Otolaryngologist can help you to determine where the anatomic source of your snoring may be and offer solutions for this noisy and often embarrassing behavior.
People who snore may suffer from:
- Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat. When muscles are too relaxed, the tongue falls backwards into the airway or the throat muscles draw in from the sides into the airway.
- Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue. Children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Overweight people may have excess soft tissue in the neck that can lead to airway narrowing.
- Long soft palate and/or uvula. A long palate narrows the opening from the nose into the throat. The excessive length of the soft palate and/or uvula acts as a noisy flutter valve during relaxed breathing.
- Obstructed nasal airways. A stuffy or blocked nose requires extra effort to pull air through it. This creates an exaggerated vacuum in the throat that pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat, and snoring results.
Excessive snoring disturbs sleeping patterns and deprives the snorer of adequate rest. It may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can lead to serious, long-term health problems.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Snoring may be a sign of a more serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is characterized by multiple episodes of breathing pauses greater than 10 seconds at a time, due to upper airway narrowing or collapse. This results in lower amounts of oxygen in the blood, which causes the heart to work harder. It also causes disruption of the natural sleep cycle, which makes people feel poorly rested despite adequate time in bed.
The immediate effect of sleep apnea is that the snorer must sleep lightly and keep the throat muscles tense in order to keep airflow to the lungs. Because the snorer does not get good rest, they may be sleepy during the day, which impairs job performance and makes them a hazardous driver or equipment operator. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of developing heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and many other medical problems.
Sleep Disorders
We Treat
Our ENT providers are compassionate and skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of sleep disorders. Please click on the links below to learn more. For more information about any of these disorders and conditions or for questions about a condition not listed here, please contact us to schedule an appointment.
- Adult Sleep Apnea
- Pediatric Sleep Apnea
- Snoring
Our Location
Irving, Texas 75063
Office
Fax
Office Hours
Mon: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Tues: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Weds: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Thurs: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Fri: 7:30am – 3pm
We are closed on weekends.
Allergy Center Hours
Mon: 8:30am – 11:30am and 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Tues: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Weds 7:30am – 11:30am and 1:00pm – 4:00pm
We are closed on weekends.
All allergy shots must be scheduled.
Schedule an
Appointment
To schedule an appointment you can either call our office
(972) 402-8404 or click here to fill out a secure request form.
