Treatment for Chronic Snoring in Manhattan, NYC

According to The American Academy of Otolaryngology, about 45 percent of adults snore occasionally. Though snoring can affect anyone, it is most common in men and people who are overweight. Snoring once and a while is perfectly normal, but snoring on a regular basis can disrupt both your sleep patterns and the sleep patterns of those around you.

What Causes Snoring?

The snoring sound is caused by tissues at the top of your airway that strike each other and vibrate as you breathe.  It can sound like a hoarse or harsh noise when the air flows through.

Snoring Related Problems

The severity of snoring can have a wide range. Sometimes snoring can come and go, while other times it can be a sign of a more serious issue, such as sleep apnea. If snoring is disrupting your quality of life, you can seek professional help.

Snoring may cause:

• Frequent awakenings at night
• Daytime sleepiness
• Disrupt your bed partner’s sleep
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may want to talk to a board-certified ENT specialist like Dr. Silvers to be evaluated for sleep apnea. OSA often is characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing stops or nearly stops.

Other signs of sleep apnea may include:

• Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
• Breathing pauses repeated many times during the night.
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Morning headaches
• Sore throat upon awakening
• Restless sleep
• Gasping or choking at night
• High blood pressure
• Chest pain at night
• Snoring is so loud it’s disrupting your partner’s sleep
• Poor attention span, behavioral issues, or poor performance in school may be seen in children

How to Diagnose Snoring

If you feel like you may have an issue with snoring, you can get answers.

Dr. Silvers may recommend:

• A few tests or imaging to examine your airway
• A sleep study to diagnose the significance of snoring
• An ear nose and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) to examine your throat and neck and the inside of your mouth to diagnose the cause of snoring

Ways to Reduce Snoring

To reduce snoring Dr. Silvers likely will first recommend lifestyle changes, such as:

• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Cutting down or avoid alcohol and other sedatives at bedtime
• Avoiding sleeping flat on your back
• Using a medical device
• Treating nasal congestion
• Avoiding alcohol close to bedtime
• Talking to Dr. Silvers about surgery

What is the Recommended Treatment for Snoring?

If you have an issue with snoring as well as sleep apnea, Dr. Silvers may recommend one of the following:

• Oral appliances – this may include a dental mouthpieces to help align your jaw to help keep your air passage open, or other ways to optimize the appliance to help your airway.
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – this approach involves wearing a mask over your nose or mouth while you sleep. The mask directs pressurized air from a small bedside pump to your airway to keep it open during sleep and is the most often used when treating snoring with OSA.
• Upper airway surgery – can help trim or tighten the excess tissues in your throat, move the upper and lower jaws forward to open your airway, control the movement of the tongue, or use radiofrequency tissue ablation to shrink obstructive tissue.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ear, Nose & Throat Services at Madison ENT

What ENT services does Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery provide?

Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery provides a comprehensive range of ENT treatments and head and neck surgical services for both adults and children. These include pH monitoring and esophageal manometry, video-guided endoscopic sinus surgery, septoplasty, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, myringotomy with tube insertion, and full audiology services. Dr. Stacey L. Silvers brings over 25 years of experience to every aspect of ENT care offered at the practice.

What is pH monitoring and esophageal manometry, and why might I need it?

These are two diagnostic tests performed at our Esophageal Testing Center to evaluate how well the esophagus the tube connecting your throat to your stomach is functioning. pH monitoring measures the acid content in the esophagus to identify abnormal acid reflux (GERD), while esophageal manometry measures the strength and pattern of muscle contractions to detect issues such as sphincter weakness, motility problems, or esophageal spasms. Together, these tests help pinpoint the cause, severity, and timing of acid reflux so that treatment can be tailored appropriately and follow-up with a gastroenterologist can be coordinated when needed.

Who performs the esophageal testing at Madison ENT?

The Esophageal Testing Center is run by Maria Zamora, a clinical assistant with 15 years of experience who was trained in the pH/Manometry procedure by one of the world’s top laryngologists. Patients can feel confident they are receiving specialized, expert-level diagnostic testing in a comfortable, familiar setting.

What is endoscopic sinus surgery, and what makes it minimally invasive?

Endoscopic sinus surgery widens blocked sinus openings and removes mucus or diseased tissue in patients who suffer from frequent or chronic sinus infections. Rather than requiring external incisions, the procedure is performed using a thin fiberoptic tube called an endoscope, which is inserted through the nostrils. Real-time video imaging guides the surgeon throughout the procedure, offering precision and safety. Because no external cuts are made, patients typically experience a shorter recovery time and less post-operative discomfort compared to traditional sinus surgery.

What is a septoplasty, and how do I know if I need one?

A septoplasty is a surgical procedure to straighten a deviated septum the wall of bone and cartilage that divides your nasal cavity. When the septum is significantly misaligned, it can cause chronic nasal congestion, sinusitis, nosebleeds, and difficulty breathing. Surgery is typically recommended only after non-surgical approaches such as nasal sprays and decongestants have failed to provide adequate relief. Most patients begin to enjoy the full benefits of improved airflow within one to two weeks after surgery, once swelling subsides and any splints or packing are removed.

What is a tonsillectomy and when is it recommended?

A tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils, masses of lymph tissue at the back of the throat that help the body fight infection early in life. Surgery is recommended when the tonsils become repeatedly infected, enlarged, or abscessed causing symptoms such as chronic sore throat, fever, ear infections, or difficulty swallowing and breathing and when more conservative treatments like antibiotics or steroids have not resolved the problem. Several techniques may be used, including traditional surgery, microcautery, and radiofrequency ablation, and the procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia.

What is an adenoidectomy, and how is it different from a tonsillectomy?

Like the tonsils, the adenoids are lymph tissue in the back of the throat that help fight infection but they are located higher up, behind the nose. When the adenoids become infected or enlarged, they can cause sore throats, ear infections, nasal stuffiness, and breathing or swallowing difficulties. An adenoidectomy is the surgical removal of the adenoids, and like a tonsillectomy, it is considered when medications have failed to resolve the issue. Both procedures are sometimes performed together depending on the patient’s condition.

What is a myringotomy and who typically needs it?

A myringotomy is one of the most frequently performed ear operations and the second most common surgical procedure in children under two years old. It involves creating a small opening in the eardrum to drain fluid that has built up behind it, which can cause hearing loss, pain, and recurrent ear infections. A small tube may be inserted to keep the opening clear for several months while the ear heals. After the procedure, drainage typically resolves and the eardrum heals on its own, though a small number of patients may need a second procedure.

Does Madison ENT treat both adults and children?

Yes. Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery provides ENT care for patients of all ages. Many of the procedures offered including myringotomy with tube insertion, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and allergy testing are commonly performed in pediatric patients. Dr. Silvers and her team are experienced in making every visit comfortable and reassuring for both children and their families.

How do I schedule an ENT appointment at Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery?

You can book an appointment online through ZocDoc, or if no availability is showing, simply call the office at (212) 213-3339 and the team will get you in within 24 hours. Madison ENT is located at 161 Madison Avenue, Suite 11W, New York, NY 10016, and is open Monday and Friday 9am–5pm and Tuesday through Thursday 8am–6pm.

Reviewed by the board-certified ENT doctor at Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery

Still have questions? Ask our ENT doctor!