And there is third factor which makes people snore - overweight.
Until 3 years ago it was getting worse. I was easily getting cold and other infections, snoring (which caused not sleeping well), cough. Until one day when I got constant cough that each repetition was literally making my head to explode. It was Saturday so I get to emergency when I got some strong drugs (something based on morphine) to stop that horrible cough. Then I decided that I had to do everything what was possible to do.
So I went to otolaryngologist who detected 3 problems: 1) completely destroyed tonsils causing ease of catching infections (and some "cosmetic" discomforts); 2) broken nasal septum which were blocking nose; 3) loose soft palate causing snoring. Tonsils were in bad shape so they were only to be removed. So the doctor fixed all the 3 points.
So what changed since then: - no snoring at all - even if want to simulate it my throat does not allow me to. Its shape really changed. Before it was like top left, now it's top right at the picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea#/media/File:UPPP._... - no infections at all (literally nothing!) - I am able to breath by nose as long as I want to, even during moderate effort (eg. during going by bicycle) - I started to have dreams. It seems that due to snoring and vibrations made by that I wasn't getting REM phase - no more every morning headaches - more energy
But: I keep forgetting to breath by nose. That's something I've been working on and it's getting better. My wife claims that I'm still snoring but on the video she took I can hear that it's sound like normal person make when has running nose. And I still have my allergy which every so often makes me sneeze and blocks my nose. So I get up morning with dry, open mouth and blocked nose (by allergy).
Until yesterday - when I was lying on my back in bed (barely sleeping) I felt that my mouth was closed all the time and the liquid made by allergy was going to throat.
So besides all the things I've read about sleeping on back - spine, muscles etc. I hope it would help me with my nose breathing too.
Well, I think it's the only way to fix it. I've never heard any pill or exercise could fix your nasal septum or soft palate. Surgery is never nice nor safe, but what else can we do?
> It can do more damage than good
Each surgery may cause problems, especially when you need anesthesia. I heard that after badly treated palate you may have problem with swallowing - that your food and liquid may go through your nose, but doctor said that it's very rare and even those cases are temporary.
The decision for me was quite easy considering where I was before it. Practically I wasn't able to function normally so I didn't have much choice. Constant infections, bad sleep, always tired, headaches... continuing that could do only worse. And when you're in worse condition, the more risky is any surgery. So I really needed to remove root of the problem. I didn't want to waist any day longer having cold (again), not being able to go skiing, losing energy every year. I'm glad I've done it.
That's my story but you have to think about you. Take all the good and especially bad sides of having surgery and decide - have it now, some other day, or maybe never? Good luck!