Sound Sleep Guide

Posts Tagged ‘snoring surgery’

Understanding what can cause you to snore is the first step in curing your snoring problem. There are quite a few different causes of snoring, each of them treatable in different ways.

Snoring is, generally speaking, brought about by insufficient airflow in the back of the nose and mouth, specifically in the area where the soft palate and uvula come in contact with the upper part of the throat and the back of the tongue.

When these tissues make contact, they vibrate which results in the sound of snoring.

Lack of muscle tone in the throat and tongue are one reason people snore. If the muscles are too relaxed, they can cause the airway to become restricted, which causes blockage and ultimately snoring.

Since alcohol is a depressant, drinking can relax muscles to a point that causes snoring.  If you stop drinking around four hours before you plan on going to sleep, you will be able to reduce the possibility that you will snore.

Other depressants that produce similar results include antihistamines and sleeping pills.

Obesity can lead to restricted breathing by leaving deposits of fat on the throat and neck and thus is another leading cause of snoring.

Some allergies bring about snoring, especially those associated with congestion of the nasal passages, since such blockage makes it difficult to breathe and can cause an individual to snore.

Nasal decongestants are a better option than antihistamines when it comes to dealing with allergies because the latter are a potential cause of snoring.  When it comes to nighttime allergy relief, try to use primarily decongestants in order to prevent both allergy symptoms and snoring.

These are a few of the more common causes of snoring. Whether one of these problems sounds like it might be what is causing your snoring or not, it’s best to discuss the problem with a health care professional to get their informed opinion.

If you’re snoring is particulary heavy you may be thinking about undergoing snoring surgery. Snoring can actually cause damage to ears, throat and lungs if it is severe so it can be more than a minor irritation! Of course, it is not neccessarily the actual snorer who islooking at having surgery it is just as likely to be the long suffering partner.

You may like to know that there are different snoring surgery options that can be considered. Some are very quick and painless and are done on an outpatient basis alone whereas others are more involved and of course riskier. The first thing you need to do when considering any snoring is of course have your doctor or dentist pinpoint the exact cause of your snoring. Which type of surgery you require will be evident by the answer to this.

Radiofrequency ablation is one type of somnoplasty snoring. Somnoplasty refers to a cutting away or stiffening and tightening of the tissue in and around the soft palate, which is the area at the roof of the mouth in the back. Flabby or excess tissue in this area vibrates when a person breathes through their mouth when sleeping and it is this vibration that produces the snoring sound. Most types of somnoplasty when performed as a surgery to cure snoring are very quick and painless and have very little risk of bleeding or complications. Patients are back to their regular routine the next day and may only experience some mild swelling and discomfort.

Some may need a tonsillectomy as a surgery to cure snoring. If the tonsils, adenoids, uvula, or other areas of the throat are swollen or infected these too can cause snoring as they will vibrate when a person breathes. Having any of these removed can be a permanent cure for snoring. Of course this type of surgery is a bit more complicated and may require an overnight hospital stay or a longer recovery time. Any surgery to cure snoring that you’re considering should be given careful consideration and preparation. Not every surgery will work for everyone but most are very successful.

There are cases where simple remedies for snoring just aren’t going to solve the issue. In some cases the only way to stop snoring is through surgery.

There are several types of surgical procedures to stop snoring. The one that’s best for you will depend on your body and the contributing factors to your snoring problem.

The type of surgeon you would consult to find out what your best option is would be a otolaryngologist. They specialize in the ears, nose and throat. Unfortunately, many insurance companies consider snoring surgery a cosmetic procedure and don’t cover the costs.

LAUP

Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is one of the more common types of surgery for dealing with snoring. In a LAUP procedure, the uvula (the dangling tissue at the back of your mouth) is cut away with a laser. This has the effect of reducing its contact with your throat.

If your snoring is caused by the uvula partially blocking your airway, this surgery can make a difference.

Somnoplasty

Another type of surgery commonly used to help with snoring problems is radio frequency tissue ablation, or RFTA. This is done under the trade name “Somnoplasty” and was only recently approved by the FDA.

RFTA is another way of reducing the size of the uvula, minimizing its contact with the throat. With RFTA, multiple sessions may be necessary before you see results. Because it is so new, there is not a lot of data published on it yet.

Another recent procedure is know as Coblation-Channeling, a method using radio frequency to reduce the tissue in the airway itself. This procedure is even newer than RFTA however, so again there is not a lot of data published on it yet.

Repose

Yet another recent procedure is called tongue suspension, going under the trade name Repose. This type of surgery keeps your tongue from falling back and blocking the airway during sleep.

A small screw is inserted into the lower jaw bone and stitches are placed below the tongue. This helps to keep the tongue in place at night.

The final procedure we’ll discuss is nasal deviation surgery. Blockages in your nose or a deviated septum can both restrict your breathing, leading to snoring. This type of surgery helps to remove those blockages and free up your airflow.

An interesting side effect of this surgery is that it also helps to improve your breathing during the day. For that reason, it is often covered by medical insurance policies.

As with any type of serious treatment, you should always consult with a medical professional before considering any surgery. Talk to your doctor about your snoring to get their informed opinion of what treatment would be best suited for your situation.