Most people snore occasionally, for reasons such as allergies, during pregnancy, or due to sleeping in a certain position. Snoring, doctors explain is often considered to be chronic snoring, when a person cannot stop snoring, and snores during most nights, regardless of what their circumstances are.

Snoring can be caused by a variety of factors including obesity, having a weak soft pallet, smoking, chronic nasal congestion, and allergies. In general, men have narrower air passages when compared to women, and are therefore are more likely to snore.
Approximately 20% of all adults may be considered to be chronic snorers, a condition that impacts those afflicted as well as those around them.

SNORING AND YOUR HEALTH:
Chronic snoring not only can cause sleep deprivation for the one snoring, it often affects those sleeping nearby, causing others to go without sleep, driving a wedge into personal relationships and home life. It may also be a sign of more serious health conditions.
Chronic snoring is one of the major signs of a potentially serious condition known as sleep apnea. Those with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly, for short periods of time during their sleep, sometimes dozens of times per night or more. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to other health concerns, and increase one’s risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

CHOICES FOR TREATMENT:
There are many different types of surgery to stop snoring available to treat chronic snoring, as well as some non surgical treatments for snoring including:
• Avoid eating heavy food or drinking alcohol before bed.
• Losing weight.
• Sleeping on your side, without a pillow, not on your back to improve airflow.
• Quiting smoking.
• Over-the-counter treatments such as nasal strips or mouth sprays
• Custom-made oral appliances
• Surgical procedures

PILLAR PROCEDURE:
In general the most effective and long-term solutions people can choose to help stop snoring are those that are surgical in nature. Performed by ENT doctors, one of the newest, most progressive treatment options is called the Pillar Procedure. This minimally invasive FDA approved treatment is a simple procedure that involves the use of small pallet implants that are inserted into the soft pallet during a single visit to an ENT doctor. For those who snore as a result of having an enlarged or weak soft pallet, Pillar is often the best option, as it is much less invasive than other types of surgery to stop snoring.

During the Pillar Procedure, three small implants are inserted into the patient’s soft palate. These implants help to decrease the vibration of soft palate (that causes snoring) when one sleeps. Clinical studies have shown that most patients experienced a dramatic reduction or complete cessation of snoring, resulting in many positive side effects, such as less daytime fatigue, and improved personal relationships.

GET DIAGNOSED:
Experts say that over-the-counter remedies are only marginally effective, and sometimes medical procedures or lifestyle changes are the only way to fully keep chronic snoring under control.