Snoring

Snoring is one of our most dreaded enemies and it’s a well documented fact that about forty five percent of adults snore occasionally, it is also known that at least twenty five percent are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more prevalent in males and overweight individuals. This usually worsens with age. Snoring occurs when there is an obstruction of the airwaves at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the collapsible part of the throat where the tongue and upper throat meet the Uvula and the soft palate. While breathing these structures strike each other and vibrate causing that insatiable sound we call snoring.
Sometimes loud snoring can be interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing, known as obstructive Sleep Apnea. Serious episodes can last more than ten seconds and can occur more than seven times an hour. Individuals with Sleep Apnea can experience anywhere from 30 to 300 episodes per night. This reduces the blood oxygen level which causes the heart to pump harder. If you have Sleep Apnea you are forced to sleep much lighter and keep your muscles tense in order to keep oxygen flowing to the lungs and brain. Because you did not obtain a good nights sleep you may find yourself sleepy during the day, impairing your performance at work, or while driving a vehicle or operating heavy equipment. After many years with this disorder, you could possibly develop elevated blood pressure and/or heart enlargement.
Heavy snorers, those of you who snore in any position or disrupt your families sleep should seek medical attention to ensure that Sleep Apnea is not the problem. An Otolarngologist can give a thorough examination of the nose, mouth, throat, palate, and neck. To determine how serious your snoring is and what effects it is having on your health, your doctor may request a sleep study in a laboratory environment.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It tightens the flabby tissues in the throat and palate, and expands the airways.
Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) refers to procedures and techniques that treat snoring and some of them are used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Different types of TAP include Bipolar Cautery, Laser, and Radio Frequency Ablation. Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) treats mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea and snoring by removing the obstruction in the airway. A laser will be used to vaporize the uvula and a specified portion of the palate in a series of small procedures in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia. Radio Frequency Ablation..... Some with temperature control approved by the FDA …. Utilizes a needle electrode to emit energy to shrink excess tissue blocking the upper airway including the Palate and Uvula (for snoring), base of the tongue (for Obstructive Sleep Apnea), and nasal turbinates (for chronic nasal obstruction).

There is always a reason for your snoring and many of you may have one of the following problems:

 Obstructed nasal airways. A stuffy or blocked requires a lot more effort to pull air through. This creates a vacuum effect in the throat, the floppy tissue pulls together and snoring results. So snoring sometimes occurs, more often then not, during heightened allergy season or with a cold or sinus infection.
 Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue. Overweight people have bulky neck tissue, whether you know it or not. Cysts and/or tumors can also cause bulk but they are rare.
 Long soft palate and/or Uvula. A long Palate narrows the opening from the nose into the throat. As it dangles, it acts like a noisy flutter valve during sleep. A long Uvula makes the problem even worse.
 Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat. When your muscles are too relaxed, either from alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness, the tongue falls backwards into the airway or the throat muscles draw in from the sides into the airway. This usually happens during sleep.

There is help for the mild or occasional snorer. You could try the following self-help remedies:
 Adopt a healthy and athletic lifestyle to develop good muscle tone and lose weight.
 Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines before bedtime.
 Avoid alcohol for at least four hours and heavy meals or snacks for three hours before retiring to bed.
 Establish regular sleep patterns.
 Sleep on your side rather than on your back.
 Tilt the head of your bed up four inches.

According to Dr. William C. Dement of the Stanford Sleep Center, anyone who snores and has daytime drowsiness should be evaluated for sleep disorders.

The loudest snore on record was 93 decibels.

Remember, snoring means an obstructed airway and the obstruction can be serious. Consult you doctor and remember that there is hope and help for snoring.