Why do I snore ?| Cardio Respiratory Sleep Australia | Cardio Respiratory Sleep Australia

Dear Patients and Referrers,

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the way which CVS/CRS operates, both in WA and VIC. We strictly follow all local and national health guidelines and our services and internal procedures have been reviewed to minimise virus transmission risk to both our patients and our staff.

We are committed to continuing to provide high quality patient care and delivering an excellent patient experience during this time, therefore we want to assure all of our patients of a safe environment and encourage our patients to continue to attend their required appointments. It is important that you do not delay your cardiac, respiratory or sleep testing during this time.

We encourage our patients and referrers to email us at adminteam@cvs.net.au to ensure an efficiently and timely handling of your request, and ask that our patients follow relevant COVID-Safe guidelines when attending our clinics.

CVS and CRS are doing everything we can to continue to deliver, when you need us most. Our thoughts are with you as we work through this together.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Philip Currie
CEO, Cardiologist

What is Snoring?

Snoring is a common condition which occurs when an obstruction in the upper airway vibrates and causes a noise to be emitted during sleep.

While snoring can range from a mild to severe problem, it can also affect sleep quality and lead to a range of negative health outcomes.

If you sleep alone, you may not realise when snoring disrupts your sleep. Snoring can be diagnosed in a comprehensive sleep study and treated with a combination of lifestyle risk factor changes and medical devices.

While a snoring noise can be made while awake, it is more commonly known as a sleep condition.

Snoring occurs more commonly when resting on the back, as it can allow the upper airway to fall and block airflow to the lungs.

How is Snoring Diagnosed?

Snoring is one of the symptoms of a medical condition called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) which has serious implications to people's heart health and wellbeing.

However if you sleep alone or are worried about your or a family members' snoring as a symptom of Obstructed Sleep Apnoea (OSA), tests are available to determine your issue.

The main test used for diagnosis is a sleep study. Depending on your circumstances, these can be done at home or in a private hospital room.

During a sleep study, multiple leads will be applied to your head, face, chest and legs to measure:

Brain activity
Heart electrical activity
Breathing efforts
Breathing behaviour
Limb movements

Each lead serves a unique purpose in providing a comprehensive analysis of your sleep throughout the night. Find out more about sleep studies at CRS.

How is Snoring Treated?

Snoring can be treated differently depending on its severity. Milder cases of snoring may be able to be improved by changing certain lifestyle factors.

Weight and nasal congestion may reduce snoring. Avoiding alcohol or sedatives before bed and not sleeping on your back can also help.

Snoring can sometimes indicate Obstructed Sleep Apnoea (OSA). This condition occurs when a person’s upper airway repeatedly narrows or collapses during sleep, obstructing airflow and causing breathing issues.

Both sleep apnoea and snoring can be treated. Visit our sleep apnoea page for details of treatment devices.

Snoring FAQs

What causes snoring?

Snoring is caused by the vibration of air passing through your airways. Your airways can become blocked and produce a snoring noise for several reasons, including:

Large tonsils or adenoids
Nasal polyps
Nasal turbinates
Deviated septum’s
Excess weight on the neck
Enlarged tongue
Offset jaw structure

Are there any surgical options to help with snoring?

Yes. Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons can diagnose which area of your airway is contributing to your snoring and perform surgery to reduce airflow obstruction. Nasal or palate surgery can remove part of the area and help to improve your airflow. Inflammation following surgery will take some time to heal.

Consult a Sleep Physician to discuss potential options that will best help to manage your individual sleep condition.

Snoring Myths and Facts

Myth: Only overweight people snore.

Fact: People of all ages, weights and genders can snore during their sleep. While excess weight on the neck can contribute to snoring, it can also occur for a variety of other reasons, such as offset jaws and obstructed nasal passages.

Myth: Only men snore.

Fact: Statistically, snoring is more common among younger males than females. However, as age increases, the chances of snoring between the genders becomes roughly equal.

Myth: There are no health concerns related to snoring.

Fact: Snoring is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea. This condition can disrupt sleep quality, leading to excessive daytime drowsiness and other long-term health effects such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Snoring can also cause sleep disruption to others around you, impacting their physical and mental health.

Book a Sleep Study Test

Book online today to organise an in-lab (private hospital) or at home sleep study to help diagnose snoring. You will need a referral from your doctor.

In-lab sleep studies in a private hospital room are recommended for greater accuracy as leads can be easily reconnected by the sleep technician monitoring the study. Contact us to find out more about our sleep studies.

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