When your partner snores, it’s a challenge to get a good rest overnight. No matter how many times you wake them or nudge them to be quiet, they always seem to start snoring all over again. So what can you do to finally stop their snoring so you can get the sleep you need?

At the Snoring & Sleep Apnea Center in Seattle, Washington, we specialize in fixing the issues that cause snoring in the first place. Dr. Katharine Christian is our sleep medicine specialist, and she offers state-of-the-art treatments to help you or your partner stop snoring for good.

What Causes Snoring

Snoring is the sound that results when air can’t easily pass through your mouth or nose as you sleep. When the air is forced through tissues in your mouth, nose, and throat, the soft tissues may hit each other, causing noises like rattling or snorting.

While it’s not always the sign of a serious medical problem, snoring can wreak havoc on your sleep and your partner’s sleep.

Snoring happens for a number of different reasons. Several circumstances can cause problems with the airflow when you sleep, including:

• Being overweight or obese
• Pregnancy
• Nasal congestion 
• Alcohol consumption
• Tonsil or adenoid swelling
• Use of sleeping pills
• Unusual bone structures
• Larger than normal tongue

The position you sleep in also plays a role in your snoring habits. While snoring itself isn’t a medical problem, if your snoring is caused by sleep apnea, it’s a more serious condition.

When to Seek Help for Snoring

If your partner snores on a regular basis and disrupts your sleep, it’s important that you discuss it with them. Even though not all snoring is cause for concern, sleep apnea is a serious disorder that involves pauses in breathing at night; it causes snoring along with other symptoms like:

• Daytime tiredness
• Headaches in the morning
• Frequently waking up at night

If your partner snores and has any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to get checked out by Dr. Christian. Sleep apnea is much more than just snoring; this serious sleep disorder has dangerous consequences if left untreated.

Talk to your partner about their snoring and how you both feel in the morning. No matter the cause of the snoring, when you and your partner are losing sleep, it’s time to talk to a sleep medicine specialist.

Treatments for Snoring

When you can’t take the snoring anymore, Dr. Christian performs an assessment to make sure there aren't any serious underlying issues causing your snoring. If she determines that your partner is snoring due to sleep apnea, Dr. Christian offers a variety of treatment options.

If the snoring is just snoring, Dr. Christian bases treatment on what’s causing the problem. She may recommend lifestyle changes, upper airway surgery, oral appliance therapy, or laser treatment using the NightLase® system by Fotona. 

The laser device is noninvasive, and it works by tightening the tissues that are causing the snoring. It safely and effectively opens the airway, targeting the cause of the obstruction. This makes it easier for air to pass through, and gets rid of obnoxious snoring, allowing you both to have a better night’s sleep.

If your partner needs effective treatment for their snoring, don’t hesitate to call our office at (206) 770-0260. You can also request an appointment using our online booking tool