Enlarged tonsilscaused by tonsillitis can causesnoringand sleep apnea or worsen current sleep disorders.
While rare, enlarged tonsils may also cause sleep apnea or snoring in adults as well.
Snoring occurs due to vibration of the soft tissues in the upper airway.
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Enlarged tonsillar tissue can contribute to these noises.
As the name implies this is usually sparked by an obstruction of the airway (including swollen tonsils).
Tonsillectomy is almost exclusively considered for children with OSA and not adults.
If you are an adult with sleep apnea, your healthcare providermayelect to perform a tonsillectomy to improve symptoms.
In those adults who have enlarged tonsils, this may be successful.However, adults usually require CPAP.
This condition causes momentary pauses in breathing while asleep.
This can impact the quality of sleep, cause morning headaches, and even affect memory.
This process of removal is called adenoidectomy.
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