Snoring is a sound produced during sleep, resulting from obstructed airflow through the upper respiratory tract. Your husband's history of tonsillitis, especially if chronic, can lead to swollen tonsils that occupy more space in the throat. This narrowed passage causes soft tissues to vibrate strongly as air passes through, leading to snoring. Additionally, enlarged tonsils can compress the pharynx, obstructing the airway and making the throat walls prone to collapsing during sleep, particularly when lying on one's back, which intensifies the snoring sound.

Weight gain exacerbates this condition significantly. Increased fat accumulation around the neck narrows and destabilizes the upper airway. During sleep, the pharyngeal muscles, which normally maintain airway openness, relax. This makes the throat walls more likely to collapse, further obstructing airflow and producing louder snoring.

Weight gain can also lead to obstructive sleep apnea. Individuals with this condition often snore loudly, gasp, and wake up gasping for air without realizing it. Obstructive sleep apnea can cause daytime fatigue, morning headaches, reduced concentration, and mouth breathing during sleep. Long-term, it increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, stroke, or diabetes.

Doctor Phat performs a throat endoscopy on a patient. Illustration: Tam Anh General Clinic District 7

Your husband's snoring is likely related to factors such as swollen tonsils and weight gain. He should consult an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist for diagnosis, to assess tonsil size, the extent of chronic inflammation, and the presence of sleep apnea. If tonsillitis is classified as grade 3 or 4, recurs frequently, or causes airway narrowing, the doctor may consider tonsillectomy or other interventions to widen the pharyngeal area.

To determine the exact cause, a doctor will perform a clinical examination, ENT endoscopy to evaluate airway obstruction, and conduct respiratory polysomnography or a sleep study. Patients who snore may be treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which helps increase the size of the upper airway and prevents it from narrowing or collapsing during sleep.

Concurrently, your husband should aim for weight loss to reduce fat around his neck. This will naturally widen the airway and improve snoring. Patients are also advised to maintain a regular exercise routine, avoid sleeping on their back, and limit alcohol consumption and smoking.

Master, Doctor, Level I Specialist Truong Tan Phat

Head of Ear, Nose, and Throat Unit

Tam Anh General Clinic District 7