Can thyroid surgery reduce snoring and what other treatments are available?
Snoring is a common trouble and most people are familiar with the unpleasant feeling of being kept awake by somebody snoring. However, for some people snoring is a grim problem, which impacts on many different areas of their life and accordingly many are seeking treatment from The Private Clinic.
There are many possible causes of snoring and snoring can be a symptom of other health conditions, including sleep apnoea. Common causes of snoring include drinking alcohol, smoking, underlying health conditions, which can make it difficult to breathe, such as pneumonia and lung disorders and allergies. Often, treating the cause can help to reduce symptoms; for example, taking antihistamines will help to reduce symptoms caused by an allergy.
Sleep apnoea and thyroid surgery
Sleep apnoea is a condition, which causes you to stop breathing during sleep and can be very serious and potentially fatal if not controlled properly. One of the major symptoms of sleep apnoea is snoring and some studies suggest that thyroid surgery for patients with sleep apnoea can reduce snoring. Thyroid surgery involves removing part or all of the thyroid gland (when the thyroid gland is enlarged) and studies in America showed that patients who had a thyroidectomy snored less after the procedure. This procedure is not recommended for most people who snore, as snoring is usually caused by other factors and an enlarged thyroid gland is not a common cause of snoring and surgery is usually believed to be a last resort, as it carries risks.
Other treatments for snoring
In many cases, snoring can be improved by self-help techniques, which include losing weight if you are overweight or obese, changing your sleeping position to sleep on your back, stopping smoking and avoiding drinking during the evenings. If these measures are ineffective, you should see your GP, who will ask you about your symptoms and suggest prevent snoring treatment to help you stop. If you suffer from allergies, they will probably prescribe antihistamines to help you breathe more easily and if you are snoring as a result of congestion, they will prescribe decongestants. In rare cases, surgery may be advised, but this is usually a last resort when other treatments have failed.