Sound Sleep Guide

If a person has trouble breathing through their nose, constantly snores loudly at night, finds it hard to stay awake during daylight hours or has actually been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, the newest surgery for snoring, Somnoplasty could provide the relief that person needs.

In 1997 this new surgery for snoring was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat upper airway disorders. Somnoplasty is a common sense solution for sufferers of sleep apnea and is an out patient procedure.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

An ear, nose, and throat doctor can perform the newest surgery for snoring in their office using low-powered radiofrequency energy on the base of the tongue. The lesions created by this process are absorbed by the tissue and the remaining tissue is stiffer. This is preformed using local anesthesia and pain medication is only required for two to three days after the surgery. In the past the same types of surgeries would require weeks of narcotics to cope with the after surgery pain.

Somnoplasty has very few side effects and there have been no reports of bleeding, infection or airway compromises. There have been a few complaints of soreness immediately following the surgery. All patients that have undergone this newest surgery for snoring have reported absolute improvement in breathing. Also over 75 per cent of patients reported a decrease in the severity and frequency of breathing problems. Most of the patients recorded decreased daytime sleepiness and a huge 77 per cent decrease in snoring.

Chronic Snoring Treatment

Chronic snoring can also be treated by the newest surgery for snoring; it is still an out-patient procedure often preformed right in the doctor’s office. The radiofrequency waves are used to reduce soft-palate tissue volume. The snoring has been shown to decrease significantly with this procedure.

Patients average a 69 per cent reduction in snoring and nearly 40 per cent reduction of waking tired after sleeping. Also this surgery is safe enough to be used for the same problem twice if necessary to produce sufficiently taut skin and eliminate or decrease the incidence of snoring. Ask your doctor if you can enjoy a better quality of life by opting for this surgical procedure.

However, there are only 300 doctors in the United States qualified to perform the newest surgery for snoring, Somnoplasty. Your doctor should be able to refer you to a qualified surgeon if they aren’t qualified to perform the procedure themselves.

Of all the methods of treating snoring and sleep apnea, laser surgery for snoring is one of the most effective ones available today. The procedure, called uvulopalatoplasty, or LAUP, requires the surgeon to use a laser to cut off the uvula (the uvula is the tissue that dangles in the back of your mouth). By doing do, the obstruction of your airway can be removed in order to stop the patient’s snoring.

How Does Laser Surgery for Snoring Work?

Laser surgery for snoring is an outpatient procedure, meaning that you do not have to stay in the hospital after the surgery is performed. It is completed under a local anesthesia, which is sprayed on the back oral cavity, tonsils, uvula, and soft palate. Then, additional local anesthesia is injected into the muscle of the uvula. After several minutes have passed, the surgeon will use a laser to make two vertical cuts in the palate on either side of the uvula. This shortens the uvula and gets rid of what was once the obstruction that caused your snoring.

The entire operation is performed while you are sitting straight up in a chair. Oftentimes, it takes more than one procedure to complete the surgery; in fact, it can take as many as five laser surgery for snoring to complete the operation. When multiple surgeries are required, they are spaced anywhere from four to eight weeks from one another.

After you have laser surgery for snoring performed, you will most likely see a quick recovery. Right after the procedure, most people experience a pain, similar to that of a sore throat, which occurs when they swallow. This may last for up to ten days, and it can be relieved by over-the-counter medications. Although patients themselves are unable to witness the results of their laser surgery for snoring, their sleeping partners will definitely notice a difference!

Making a Decision

If you are trying to decide whether or not to have laser surgery for snoring performed, you should consult your doctor. He or she will most likely ask you some routine questions, such as ‘Do you wake up often in the middle of the night?’ and ‘Do you feel tired during the day?’ If the doctor is able to diagnose you with a severe snoring problem and feels you are a suitable candidate for LAUP, then you will probably have to complete a sleep study in order for the doctors to determine the severity of your sleep apnea or snoring problems.

A sleeping baby is such a wonderful sight for new parents. Infants require so much time and attention that when they finally do settle down for a lengthy nap, parents may feel it is time that they can finally relax themselves.

However, sometimes nap time may bring added concerns for the parents. Many mothers and fathers talk about getting up several times at night to check if their infant is alive and breathing. If the infant snores loud enough that the parents can easily hear the child without a baby monitor, they may begin to be concerned about infant snoring. The parents may question if infant snoring is normal, if the baby is breathing correctly, and what should be done about infant snoring.

Infant snoring may be caused by several factors. Because infants do not breathe through their mouth, if they have any nasal congestion they will tend to snore. Nasal congestion can be caused by allergies or colds. Some studies have shown that if the parents snore the infant is likely to snore as well. This may be related to familial allergies or inherited facial and throat structure. Determining the cause of the infant snoring can help the parents intervene appropriately.

What Can Be Done to Alleviate Infant Snoring?

Suction Bulb

One of the first things a parent can do to determine if the infant snoring is a serious problem is to begin by some basic treatments. Most parents are familiar with suction bulbs but do not use them enough. Using a suction bulb before bed or nap time may clear the nasal passageway enough to allow quiet breathing.

Saline Spray and Humidifier

Another simple remedy for nasal congestion is saline spray. Many pediatricians recommend a basic saline spray to help clear the nasal cavity. These sprays can be bought over-the-counter is the local drug store. Parents just need to be cautious to by only a saline spray and not a nasal spray with medication unless advised by their physician. Another easy home remedy is using a humidifier in the baby’s room. Humidified air can help keep the nasal discharge moist so it is more easily moved through the nasal passageways.

Medical Advice

If the infant snoring is not easily cured by basic home remedies it is best for the parents to consult the pediatrician. If the infant has sleep apnea or structural obstructions which prevent adequate oxygen intake it is very important that medical intervention takes place. The infant may need to wear a breathing mask when sleeping or have supplemental oxygen.

In some rare cases surgical intervention may be required to remove obstructions in the throat or nasal cavity which are causing the infant snoring. While this may sound harsh some simple surgeries may be a great advantage to the infant for its whole life. Good oxygen intake while sleeping will enable an infant to grow, develop, and learn to its full potential.