As a privately practicing sleep physician, Dr. John Krehlik offers testing and treatment for patients with a variety of sleep disturbances. Dr. John Krehlik welcomes many patients who are seeking an explanation for their chronic snoring.
A common affliction, snoring can range in severity from an occasional annoyance to a chronic condition that signals a serious medical issue. It occurs when the tissues in the throat and the roof of the mouth relax during sleep, thus partially blocking the airway. As exhalation forces air past these tissues, the relaxed structures begin to vibrate and cause the signature sound of a snore.
In many patients, this process occurs as a result of a virus or allergy that blocks the nasal passages, or as a side effect of a deviated septum. Other patients snore because age has weakened the tongue and throat muscles, or because they have developed too much tissue in these regions. Causes of excess tissue may range from enlarged tonsils to a naturally long uvula, though excess weight may also be a contributing factor. In some patients, however, chronic snoring stems from a serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, which requires medical intervention.
A common affliction, snoring can range in severity from an occasional annoyance to a chronic condition that signals a serious medical issue. It occurs when the tissues in the throat and the roof of the mouth relax during sleep, thus partially blocking the airway. As exhalation forces air past these tissues, the relaxed structures begin to vibrate and cause the signature sound of a snore.
In many patients, this process occurs as a result of a virus or allergy that blocks the nasal passages, or as a side effect of a deviated septum. Other patients snore because age has weakened the tongue and throat muscles, or because they have developed too much tissue in these regions. Causes of excess tissue may range from enlarged tonsils to a naturally long uvula, though excess weight may also be a contributing factor. In some patients, however, chronic snoring stems from a serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, which requires medical intervention.