Removing the tonsils and adenoids is one of the treatments that doctors may recommend to prevent snoring, but it’s not a foolproof solution.
Can you still snore without tonsils and adenoids? People can still snore through their nose. Also, not everybody snores because of swollen tonsils and adenoids. So if the primary cause of snoring does not have to do with those areas, then you would still snore while you sleep.
There are a number of things that trigger snoring. For each cause, there is also an appropriate treatment. As you read further, you’ll better understand why people snore (and what your tonsils and adenoids have to do with it), what causes it, and what the different treatment options are.
What Makes People Snore (Aside from Their Tonsils and Adenoids)?
Snoring can be caused by a number of things.
When you sleep, you start off with light sleep, then move onto a deeper sleep. As your sleep becomes deeper, your soft palate (the muscles around the rood of your mouth), throat and tongue start to relax. And when they relax, the tissues around this area (including your tonsils and adenoids) can partially block your airways.
Once your airways are blocked, extra force is needed for the air to go through. As the flow of air becomes more forceful, the entire area where the airway is blocked vibrates, causing the snoring sound.
Note that the more narrow your airway gets, the louder your snoring also is.
What contributes to the narrowing of your airways, causing your snoring to get worse?
- Alcohol consumption
When you consume alcohol before bedtime, the more relaxed your body will be when sleeping. This causes your throat muscles to collapse even further, causing an even worse blockage on your airways.
And it’s not just even alcohol. Basically, anything else that has the same effect, like sleeping pills and other similar medication, would cause you to snore as well.
- Anatomy
Sometimes, it’s not just what you do, but the way your body is formed as well. In terms of snoring, some people naturally have thicker soft palates or narrower airways.
Weight is another factor that greatly affects your mouth anatomy. If you are overweight, there is also a huge possibility that your airways are narrower because of possible fat deposits around your neck or throat.
Some people also have longer than normal uvulas (that’s the triangular bit of tissue hanging from the back of your mouth. This can also contribute to your snoring.
- Fatigue and sleep deprivation
Fatigue and sleep deprivation is already bad enough as it is, considering the impact it has on your overall health. But as far as snoring goes, it is also one of the biggest contributors.
The more tired and sleep deprived you are, the bigger the chances of you falling into an even deeper sleep the next time you attempt to get some shuteye. This means that your muscles and tissues will be even more relaxed, causing an even bigger blockage on your airways.
- Inflammation
Allergies, infections, and other health concerns can cause parts of your airways to become inflamed. This contributes further to the narrowing of your airways.
Your tonsils and adenoids are just some of the areas that become easily inflamed, especially among kids.
- Nasal congestion and other nasal issues
Snoring can also come from the nose. If you have the colds or have clogged sinuses, this could also cause you to snore.
The way your nose is structured can also affect your likelihood of snoring. Some people have a deviated nasal septum, for example. This means that the partition between their to nostrils is crooked or is not properly developed. This can cause the air to have difficulty in passing through as well, causing you to snore.
- Sleeping position
The way you sleep can also have an impact on how loud your snoring can become.
Most people who snore also love sleeping on their back. This causes the throat and tongue tissues to collapse backwards to the throat, narrowing the airways.
This is why people who snore are always advised to try sleeping on their side. It may not be comfortable for some people, but using body pillows to support your body while sleeping on your side greatly helps.
What are the Treatments for Snoring?
Snoring can be treated in different ways. Some of the most common treatment recommendations that doctors and sleep specialists give involve lifestyle changes, therapy, and surgery.
Lifestyle Changes
Some parts of your daily routine and overall lifestyle can dictate how bad your snoring is.
Make sure you know what the ideal weight is for your height. Remember that it’s not merely about making yourself thinner. It’s about making yourself healthier.
When you have too much excess fat, it can worsen your snoring and could also make you a possible sleep apnea patient. This means that it can heighten the possibility of a stroke or heart failure.
Stop smoking. This causes your throat to become inflamed, which will be a contributor to narrow airways. Limit your drinking as well. Avoid drinking alcohol 4 hours before bedtime. Avoid heavy snacks right before bedtime, too.
Don’t tire yourself out too much. Fix your schedule and aim to be productive, and not just to be busy. Make sure you have enough sleep at night. Not only will this help you avoid snoring, it will also help improve your focus and improve your productivity during the day.
Therapy
When it comes to therapy, CPAP is the most common option.
CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, requires the patient to wear a mask over the nose and/or mouth while sleeping. This mask is attached to a machine that sends pressure into the airways, opening it up as your breathe in and out.
You could also try out the BiPAP, which can send two different levels of pressure as you breathe in and out. In some cases, a VPAP may also be recommended. This sends varied levels of air pressure depending on the case.
Surgery
If it’s a physical or anatomical problem, then there’s a chance that surgery might be recommended.
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy is the procedure where your tonsils and adenoids will be removed. You can also opt for somnoplasty, which is a bit less invasive. This procedure aims to reduce the amount of soft tissues around your upper airways.
If reducing your tissues is not enough, your doctor may also recommend palate surgery. Here, some parts of your soft palate that obstruct the airways will be removed.
You can also try to have an upper airway stimulated implanted through surgery. This is normally recommended for people with sleep apnea.
Basically, a pulse generator will be embedded under your skin on your upper chest area. It has a wire that leads to your lungs, which will allow it to track your natural breathing pattern.
There will be another wire connected to the neck, which stimulates the nerves controlling your airway muscles. This prompts the muscles to keep your airways open wile sleeping.
This device can be powered and operated via an external remote. The user just has to switch it on before going to sleep, then switch it off when they wake up in the morning.
Related Questions
Is it normal to snore after a tonsillectomy?
It is normal for a person who just went through a tonsillectomy to snore and breathe through their mouth after the surgery. The throat area will still be swollen from the procedure, making it tough for the patient to breathe normally. This could last for a few days. After this, it will be easier for the patient to breathe properly and may possibly not snore any longer.
Has anyone died from getting their tonsils removed?
Death because of tonsillectomy is rare and only occurs at a ratio of 1 out of around 2,360 to 56,000 procedures. The procedure is generally safe, save for some difficulty eating and trouble talking after the surgery. Bleeding and vomiting are also common after-effects of the surgery. The pain should only last for a week or two. Some of the more serious complications may include tongue swelling, cardiac arrest, and respiratory problems, depending on the conditions that led to the complications.
