Snoring or Sleep Apnea? How an ENT Specialist Can Help Improve Your Sleep
Snoring can sometimes indicate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that disrupts sleep and increases health risks like heart disease. An ENT specialist can diagnose and treat sleep apnea with options like CPAP, surgery, or minimally invasive procedures. If you're struggling with sleep or snoring, an ENT consultation could help improve your sleep quality.
Snoring or Sleep Apnea? How an ENT Specialist Can Help Improve Your Sleep
Quality sleep is essential for overall health and well-being. However, for those who snore—or sleep next to someone who does—getting a restful night can be a challenge.
Snoring is a common issue among adults. While it can be bothersome, it’s more than just a nuisance; in some cases, it may signal a more serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Although often associated with loud and excessive snoring, sleep apnea is much more than an annoyance to those nearby—it’s a significant health concern that requires attention.

What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent and serious condition that affects as many as 18 million Americans alone – that’s approximately one in every 15 Americans suffering from the sleeping disorder.
Sleep apnea is characterized by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. This leads to loud snoring, interrupted sleep, and daytime fatigue. The pauses in breathing during sleep are caused by the collapsing or narrowing of the upper airway.
When we stop breathing, it limits the amount of oxygen in the blood, forcing the heart to work harder than it should. The lack of oxygen in your blood also sends a signal to your brain to jolt you awake and get more air. This can often leave patients with disrupted sleep, restless throughout the night, and tired during the day.
Typically, sleep apnea patients will experience 30 to 300 events every night.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Loud and excessive snoring
- Frequent pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking up during sleep with a gasping or choking sensation
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Waking up with a headache
- Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
Sleep apnea also increases the risk of having a stroke or developing high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or other cardiac issues.
How Can an ENT Specialist Address Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can quickly impact the quality of your sleep and therefore, the quality of your life too. Seeing an ENT specialist can help you get to the bottom of the condition and address its impact on your life.
An ENT specialist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your symptoms to diagnose sleep apnea. They may recommend a sleep study to monitor your sleeping patterns. Additionally, they will also assess and consider your medical history and might perform other physical examinations should they deem it necessary.
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, your care provider will develop a treatment plan personally tailored for you. The treatment plan may include any of the following:
- CPAP machine
One of the most common techniques to address sleep apnea is through a CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine. CPAP machines help patients open up their airways at night. It supplies the body with continuous oxygen, helping them breathe better while sleeping. Using the machine will have patients breathe through a face mask, which they will have to wear during the duration of their sleep.
- UPPP
The obstruction that causes sleep apnea is typically due to excess soft tissue in the throat. If this is the case for you, your physician might recommend a procedure called UPPP, or uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. During the procedure, the surgeon will remove excess tissue in the throat to open up the airways, ensuring that you get enough oxygen during sleep.
- Balloon sinuplasty
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small balloon catheter to gently inflate and open nasal passages, effectively removing nasal obstruction. This procedure is often recommended for mild cases of sleep apnea.
- Septoplasty
In some cases, the obstruction in the airways is due to a deviated septum. If this is the case for you, a procedure called septoplasty might be the best course of action. Septoplasty restores the septum into its proper position, allowing patients to breathe correctly through the nose.
- Radiofrequency
Another common cause for breathing obstruction during sleep is enlarged turbinates. Turbinates are tissues located inside the nose, and they can sometimes be enlarged in some people. The enlarged size can be reduced via radiofrequency energy, allowing patients to breathe better during sleep.
Let Trinity ENT Help Improve Your Sleep
There are various ways an ENT specialist can help with snoring and sleep apnea. The best course of treatment will vary from one patient to another, which is why consulting with your care provider is crucial. This will allow them to recommend treatment plans tailored for your unique case.
Schedule a consultation with our top ENT specialists today and find the best ways to improve your sleep!