Snoring can be more than an unpleasant noise during sleep – it can also be a sign of breathing problems. If snoring comes with pauses in breathing, frequent waking, morning headaches or daytime sleepiness, it is important to find out whether you have obstructive sleep apnoea – a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes significantly shallower during sleep.
At Baltic American Clinic, ENT doctors (otorhinolaryngologists) investigate the causes of snoring and breathing problems during sleep, carry out the necessary diagnostic tests and, when indicated, provide surgical treatment. The clinic performs polysomnography, sleep endoscopy, soft palate surgery and other ear, nose and throat operations. Treatment is tailored to you after assessing your symptoms, airway anatomy and test results.
You can schedule an ENT consultation and the examinations you need.
Polysomnography and sleep endoscopy help to identify breathing problems and their causes.
Soft palate, tonsil and other ENT operations when there are appropriate medical indications.
A continuous treatment pathway – from consultation and tests to surgery and post-operative follow-up.
When should you see a doctor about snoring or sleep apnoea?
Snoring occurs when the upper airway narrows during sleep and the soft tissues vibrate as you breathe. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnoea.
A consultation is recommended if:
- You snore loudly and constantly. Snoring happens most nights and disturbs your sleep or the sleep of those close to you.
- Pauses in breathing are noticed. Others notice that you briefly stop breathing during sleep.
- You wake up gasping for air. At night you sometimes wake suddenly feeling breathless or short of air.
- You feel sleepy during the day. It is hard to stay alert even though you allow enough time for sleep.
- You have morning headaches. You wake up unrefreshed, with a headache or a dry mouth.
- You often wake up at night. Your sleep is fragmented and restless, and you cannot rest properly.
- You find it hard to concentrate. You notice poorer memory, concentration or work performance.
- You have problems breathing through your nose. Your nose is constantly blocked or it is hard to breathe through it when lying down.
- You have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Especially if it is hard to control and there are other signs of sleep apnoea.
If you are so sleepy that it is hard to stay alert while driving, see a doctor without delay. Until your condition has been assessed, do not drive if you feel you might fall asleep.
What is the difference between snoring and sleep apnoea?
Snoring
Snoring is a sound caused by vibration of the upper airway tissues during sleep.
It can be promoted by anatomical features of the soft palate, problems breathing through the nose, excess weight, drinking alcohol before bed or sleeping on your back.
Simple snoring is not necessarily linked to pauses in breathing or a drop in blood oxygen levels. Even so, it is not possible to tell reliably from the loudness of snoring alone whether a person has sleep apnoea.
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea means repeated episodes of narrowing or closure of the upper airway during sleep.
During these episodes breathing may stop for a while or become significantly shallower. This can lower blood oxygen saturation, cause brief awakenings and disrupt the normal structure of sleep.
Untreated moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and other health problems.
The severity of sleep apnoea is determined by the results of objective sleep tests, not only by how loud the snoring is.
What causes snoring and sleep apnoea?
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea can be caused by several factors acting at the same time.
Features of the soft palate and uvula
During sleep, the relaxed soft palate tissues can vibrate and narrow the upper airway.
Enlarged palatine tonsils
Enlarged tonsils can narrow the throat and contribute to breathing problems during sleep.
Enlarged adenoids
In children, enlarged adenoids can make breathing through the nose difficult, cause snoring and contribute to obstructive sleep apnoea.
Deviated nasal septum
A deviated nasal septum can make breathing through the nose difficult and contribute to snoring. However, correcting the septum alone does not always resolve sleep apnoea.
Enlarged nasal turbinates
Changes in the nasal lining or turbinates can reduce airflow through the nose.
Anatomy of the tongue and throat
Certain anatomical features of the tongue, lower jaw and throat can promote narrowing of the airway during sleep.
Excess weight
More fatty tissue in the neck and throat area can increase the risk of upper airway closure.
Alcohol and sedatives
Some substances reduce the muscle tone of the upper airway and can make snoring or sleep apnoea worse.
To choose the right treatment, it is important to identify not only the symptoms but also their causes.
Diagnosis of snoring and sleep apnoea
Several different tests may be needed to find the cause of snoring and to diagnose sleep apnoea. During the consultation, the ENT doctor assesses your symptoms and the condition of your upper airway and chooses the most suitable tests.
Baltic American Clinic performs polysomnography – a sleep study that helps to assess breathing problems during sleep – and sleep endoscopy, which helps to identify where the upper airway may be narrowing.
These tests complement each other, but their purposes differ. Polysomnography helps to diagnose sleep apnoea and its severity, while sleep endoscopy can be useful when planning surgical treatment.
ENT examinationsWhich treatments are used for snoring and sleep apnoea?
The choice of treatment depends on whether simple snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea has been diagnosed, and on the severity of the condition, the anatomy of the airway and your general health.
Not every patient needs surgery. Surgical treatment is considered when an anatomical obstruction is found and correcting it is likely to reduce the symptoms.
Non-surgical treatment
In milder cases of snoring and in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea, measures that help to reduce narrowing of the airway during sleep may be recommended.
Changing your sleeping position
In some patients, snoring and breathing problems get worse when sleeping on the back. In such cases changing the sleeping position may help.
Weight management
If you are overweight, losing weight can reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea and improve your general health.
Reducing the effect of alcohol and sedatives
It is advisable to avoid alcohol before bed and to discuss with your doctor any medicines that may make breathing problems worse. Do not stop taking prescribed medicines on your own.
Improving breathing through the nose
If nasal congestion makes snoring worse, treatment of nasal conditions may be needed. It can improve breathing and sleep comfort, but does not always cure obstructive sleep apnoea.
Soft palate surgery (uvulopalatoplasty)
Uvulopalatoplasty is an operation in which the tissues of the soft palate and uvula are corrected to reduce their vibration and the narrowing of the upper airway during sleep.
When is it performed?
The operation may be considered when snoring or certain breathing problems during sleep are caused by anatomical features of the soft palate.
Before the operation it is important to assess whether the patient has obstructive sleep apnoea, how severe it is and where the airway narrows.
How is the operation performed?
The surgeon corrects the tissues of the soft palate and, where indicated, the uvula. The extent of the operation depends on the anatomical changes.
What is important to know?
After the operation there may be a sore throat, discomfort when swallowing and temporary swelling of the tissues.
Surgery does not always completely eliminate snoring or sleep apnoea. The likely benefits and possible risks are discussed before the operation.
Uvulopalatoplasty with tonsillectomy
This is a combined operation in which the soft palate tissues are corrected and the palatine tonsils are removed.
When is it performed?
When the narrowing of the airway is caused not only by changes in the soft palate but also by enlarged tonsils.
How is the operation performed?
Soft palate correction and tonsillectomy are performed during one operation.
The aim is to widen the throat and reduce the anatomical narrowing of the airway.
What is important to know?
After a combined operation the sore throat and discomfort when swallowing may be more marked, and there is a risk of bleeding. The recovery period depends on the extent of the operation.
Extended uvulopalatoplasty
This is a more extensive surgical correction of the soft palate and throat area.
When is it performed?
When more marked anatomical changes are found and a standard soft palate correction may not be enough.
How is the operation performed?
The extent of the surgical correction is decided individually, taking into account the anatomy of the airway and the results of diagnostic tests.
What is important to know?
A more extensive operation may involve longer healing and more post-operative discomfort. The possible benefits, complications and alternative methods are discussed before treatment.
Surgical treatment of snoring and sleep apnoea in children
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in children are often caused by enlarged adenoids or palatine tonsils. This tissue can narrow the upper airway and make breathing during sleep difficult.
When there are appropriate medical indications, the following operations performed at Baltic American Clinic may be recommended.
Adenoidectomy
An operation to remove the adenoids (pharyngeal tonsil).
It may be recommended when enlarged adenoids significantly impair breathing through the nose, cause constant snoring or contribute to sleep apnoea.
During the operation the adenoid tissue is removed through the mouth. No external cuts are needed.
Tonsillectomy
An operation to remove the palatine tonsils.
It may be recommended when enlarged tonsils significantly narrow the throat and contribute to breathing problems during sleep.
The operation is performed through the mouth under general anaesthesia.
Adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy
When both enlarged adenoids and palatine tonsils narrow the airway, the doctor may recommend removing both during one operation.
This treatment can be effective in children whose obstructive sleep apnoea is linked to enlargement of this tissue.
What is important to know?
Not every child who snores needs surgery. The decision is made after assessing the symptoms, the anatomy of the airway, the severity of the sleep disorder and the child’s general health.
After the operation there may be a sore throat, discomfort when swallowing, temporary nasal congestion or other post-operative symptoms.
Tonsillectomy also carries a risk of post-operative bleeding, so it is essential to follow the doctor’s recommendations.
Even after surgery some children may still have symptoms of sleep apnoea, so repeat testing is recommended if needed.
Operations to improve breathing through the nose
When snoring comes with constant nasal congestion, the doctor may find a deviated nasal septum or enlarged nasal turbinates.
When indicated, Baltic American Clinic performs nasal septum correction (septoplasty), turbinate reduction (conchoplasty) and a combined conchotomy with septoplasty.
These operations can improve breathing through the nose, reduce some snoring symptoms and, in certain cases, make other sleep apnoea treatments easier to use.
However, nose operations are not a universal treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.
Read more about these procedures on the “Nose and sinus treatment” page.
How does treatment of snoring and sleep apnoea work?
The doctor discusses the quality of your sleep, the nature of your snoring, possible pauses in breathing, daytime sleepiness and other symptoms.
The condition of the nose, throat and other upper airway structures is assessed.
If sleep apnoea is suspected, polysomnography may be ordered.
When surgical treatment is being considered, the doctor may recommend sleep endoscopy to help identify where the airway may be narrowing.
After the test results have been reviewed, the severity of sleep apnoea is determined and the most suitable treatment is chosen.
If surgery is being considered, the doctor discusses its purpose, the possible benefits, risks and treatment alternatives.
Treatment is carried out according to your individual plan.
After surgery you receive recommendations on diet, physical activity, pain control and post-operative care.
If needed, a repeat sleep study is done to assess the result of treatment objectively.
How to prepare for treatment of snoring and sleep apnoea
Preparation depends on the planned test or treatment.
Before the ENT consultation
- Think about your symptoms. It helps to know how often you snore, whether pauses in breathing have been noticed and whether you feel sleepy during the day.
- Bring the results of previous tests. Especially if sleep studies or ENT examinations have already been done.
- Tell us about the medicines you take. Some medicines can affect breathing and the structure of sleep.
- Mention other conditions. Especially cardiovascular or respiratory diseases or previous operations.
Before surgical treatment
- Blood tests and other pre-operative tests may be needed.
- You must tell us about allergies, blood clotting disorders and the medicines you take.
- If general anaesthesia is planned, you must follow the specified period without food and drink.
- It is advisable to plan time for post-operative recovery in advance.
The doctor will tell you about the specific preparation requirements.
When may surgical treatment not be suitable?
Surgery is not the best choice for every patient who snores or has sleep apnoea.
An operation may not be recommended or may be postponed if:
- No clear anatomical obstruction has been found. The benefit of surgery may be limited if the cause of snoring or apnoea is not related to the tissues being corrected.
- There is an acute infection or fever. A planned operation may be postponed.
- Other conditions are not under control. They can increase the risks of anaesthesia and surgery.
- There are blood clotting disorders. The risk of post-operative bleeding may be higher.
- Certain medicines are being taken. The treatment plan may need to be adjusted individually before the operation.
The doctor makes the final decision on whether surgical treatment is suitable after assessing your health, test results and the likely benefit of treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone who snores have sleep apnoea?
No. Snoring can occur without sleep apnoea. However, if it comes with pauses in breathing, episodes of breathlessness or daytime sleepiness, testing is recommended.
Can you have sleep apnoea without snoring?
Yes. Although snoring is a common sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, its absence does not rule out the condition.
Can sleep apnoea be dangerous to health?
Yes. Untreated obstructive sleep apnoea, especially moderate or severe, is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and road accidents caused by sleepiness.
Can snoring be cured with surgery?
In some patients surgery can significantly reduce snoring, especially if a clear anatomical cause is found. However, complete and lasting disappearance of snoring cannot be guaranteed.
Does soft palate surgery cure sleep apnoea?
Not in all cases. The result of the operation depends on the severity of sleep apnoea, where the airway narrows and other factors. Some patients may still need additional treatment after the operation.
Can slim people have sleep apnoea?
Yes. Although excess weight increases the risk of sleep apnoea, people of normal body weight can also have it because of individual anatomical features of the airway.
Can alcohol make snoring worse?
Yes. Alcohol reduces the muscle tone of the upper airway, so snoring and breathing problems during sleep can get worse.
Is the throat sore after soft palate surgery?
Yes, after the operation there may be a sore throat and discomfort when swallowing. How strong and how long-lasting they are depends on the extent of the operation and individual healing. The doctor prescribes appropriate pain relief and gives care recommendations.
Can snoring in children also be linked to sleep apnoea?
Yes. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in children can be caused by enlarged adenoids or palatine tonsils and other factors. Diagnosis and the choice of treatment in children differ from adults, so an individual assessment by a specialist is needed.
Do I need to repeat the sleep study after snoring surgery?
If obstructive sleep apnoea was diagnosed before the operation, the doctor may recommend a repeat objective sleep study. Less snoring alone does not prove that sleep apnoea has gone.
Do I need an ENT consultation before surgery for snoring or sleep apnoea?
Yes. This treatment requires an ENT consultation. The doctor will assess your condition and test results and decide whether surgical treatment is suitable.
Price of snoring and sleep apnoea treatment
Prices for ENT consultations, sleep studies, diagnostic procedures and surgical treatment are set according to the Baltic American Clinic price list in force.
The clinic provides the following services related to the diagnosis and surgical treatment of snoring and sleep apnoea:
- Polysomnography (sleep study).
- Sleep endoscopy.
- Sleep endoscopy with an inpatient stay.
- Uvulopalatoplasty (soft palate surgery).
- Uvulopalatoplasty with tonsillectomy.
- Extended uvulopalatoplasty.
- Adenoidectomy.
- Tonsillectomy.
When there are appropriate indications, operations to improve breathing through the nose can also be performed, including septoplasty, conchoplasty and conchotomy with septoplasty.
The ENT consultation, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures are separate services. They are charged according to the clinic’s price list in force, except where specific steps are included in the price of the chosen service.
If surgery is planned, the final price depends on its extent, complexity and any additional services needed. Anaesthesia, inpatient services and post-operative nursing care may be charged additionally according to the price list in force.
The specific scope of treatment and the expected costs are discussed before the procedure or operation.
A referral does not change the clinic’s set prices for paid services at Baltic American Clinic.