Snoring and Smoking

Dear Ask The Doctor: Had several check ups to determine why I started to snore! Was told it is a throat infection, got treated with antibiotic, spray and throat antiseptic, symptoms disappeared and I was breathing better than ever. But symptoms return every couple of month, glands slightly swelling although were removed 40 yrs ago. Had a culture for infection type and tested for thyroids, both negative,still wake up hearing my own snore, dry throat and almost cannot breath when put my head down, unless my head tilted to back to open my airway, plus nose partially blocked most of the time. Any advice? BTW, I smoke max. 10 cigs a day.

Dear Mona: Snoring can occur for various reasons. In you case it seems that your airways (nose and throat) are inflamed.   The inflammation narrows the airways which results in snoring. Smoking contributes significantly to this recurrent inflammation.You should try to reduce the number of cigarettes you consume with an aim to quit smoking completely. I suggest seeing an ENT specialist to rule out more serious conditions which could manifest as snoring such as a tumor. Once these conditions have been ruled out, along with quitting smoking, various medications can be used to reduce the airway inflammation and thus snoring.