SNORING SURGERY
Snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound that occurs when air flows through relaxed tissues in your throat, which causes these tissues to vibrate as you breathe. Snoring is a common condition that can affect anyone, although it occurs more often in men and unfortunately worsens with age. Research reveals that twenty percent of men snore at the age of twenty and approximately sixty percent of men snore at the age of sixty.
An unpleasant situation occurs when the snoring problem becomes so excessive that your sleeping partner is constantly disturbed when trying to sleep. It is usually at this stage that poor quality sleep patterns will impact both the person suffering from snoring and their sleeping partner. Medical assistance is often needed for habitual snorers and their loved ones in order to get a good night's rest.
Causes
Snoring usually occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is physically obstructed. This can be caused by factors such as obstructed nasal air passages, poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue, bulky throat tissue or a long soft palate at the back of the mouth that can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat.
Your lifestyle can also contribute to you snoring. Lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption at night and the use of drugs such as marijuana suppress your respiratory drive and put you into a deeper sleep, which will cause your snoring to increase. A person generally snores more excessively when they are very tired. Snoring is a symptom of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea, which causes one to breathe irregularly when they are asleep.
The good news is that all of the above snoring contributing factors are reversible by simply making a few adjustments to your lifestyle. However, there are certain causes of snoring that can be assisted by judicious snoring surgery only. Difficulties usually arise in three areas: the nose and sinuses, the nasopharynx and throat, and the oral cavity and oropharynx.
Treatment
The ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon has unique expertise in identifying snoring concerns and can recommend a suitable snoring treatment.
Nasal and sinus concerns are usually addressed first. Thereafter, an ENT surgeon will advise you with regards to changing your lifestyle, and nasal sprays will be recommended. If medical therapy does not initially work, further analysis is undertaken to determine whether possible surgical treatment for snoring is required. This could include the management of a deviated nasal septum or nasal polyps.
The nasopharynx and throat may also require surgery, typically in the form of the removal of adenoids and possibly tonsils. Concerns related to the oral cavity and oropharynx are dealt with in a variety of ways, such as:
- Surgery to the palate under local anaesthetic making use of a laser
- Surgery to the palate and uvula under general anaesthetic
- Oral prostheses utilised to keep the tongue forward while sleeping
Depending on your particular concern, the above remedies for snoring are presented after which you will be guided with regards to your snoring treatment options.