Sometimes snoring can be eliminated by using stop snoring aids or losing weight. Other times there is just no way to naturally reverse the cause of your snoring. You don’t have to abandon hope though because simple surgery can be very effective at stopping snoring. The two common snoring surgeries are thermal ablation palatoplasty and ubulopalatopharyngoplasty.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty involves surgical removal of excess tissue in the airways. This might be partial removal of the uvula, tonsils, adenoids, pharynx, or soft palate. With the tissue removed, the airway is wider so air is able to pass though more easily, so obstruction and snoring are reduced or eliminated. If you decide to have this surgical procedure, be prepared to recover for at least three weeks. During recovery you will experience a sore throat and difficulty in swallowing.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is only indicated if you have too much tissue crowding your airway such as an enlarged uvula or adenoids. It is used as a last resort after trying other methods to stop snoring like losing weight. There is no guarantee this surgery will eliminate your snoring. Like any other kind of surgery there are some risks you should consider. These include infection, bleeding and change in voice quality.
Thermal ablation palatoplasty is also used to remove or shrink excess tissue. However it is usually done in your doctor’s office under a local anesthesia and multiple sessions are required. There are three kinds of thermal ablation palatoplasty: laser, cautery, and radiofrequency. For example, with laser assisted thermal ablation palatoplasty, your doctor uses a laser to trim away part of your uvula. Radiofrequency waves are used in order to shrink tissue and cautery cuts tissue away.
Complications with thermal ablation palatoplasty are rare. You should not use aspirin or NSAIDS two weeks before your surgery or two weeks after to reduce the risk of excess bleeding. It is possible that an ulcer or hole will develop in the soft palate after this procedure. Although painful, it usually heals in just a few days. You might also experience a change in the sound of your voice and have food come into your nose when you swallow. These effects are usually temporary and should pass within the first few days.
Other surgeries may help to reduce snoring as well. A simple tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy may clear your snoring if it is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids. The Pillar Procedure may be used for less serious cases of snoring that are caused by the collapse of the soft palate. With this procedure, your doctor inserts woven implants into your soft palate. Your body responds to this by strengthening your soft palate over time so it does not fall into your airway while you are sleeping.
When it comes to snoring surgery, your doctor will likely save it as a last resort. He will probably want you to lose weight first and maybe even try stop snoring aids. Snoring surgery is painful and carries a risk of complications, although complications are rare. However, if it is necessary to finally end your snoring problem once and for all then it may be worth it to have surgery. Discuss your snoring problem with your doctor so you are well informed about the risks and benefits before making a decision.
Filed under Articles by on Nov 6th, 2009. Comment. 
Everyone likes to joke about snoring, but if you are the one who snores, you know it is no laughing matter. There are many disadvantages to snoring and no advantages other than it may alert you to a serious medical condition. Snoring can be bad for your mental and physical health and drive your sleeping partner crazy.
Some people snore so bad that they have to sleep alone because their spouses cannot sleep through the racket. Are you one of the people embarrassed by your snoring? If you are driving your significant other nuts then you probably want to find a way to stop snoring, if not for yourself, then for your loved one. Thankfully, there are many stop snoring aids on the market that you can try until you find something that works so you don’t have to worry about being an outcast at night. Even if your sleeping partner toughs it out with you through the night, if she pokes and kicks you several times a night to get you to stop snoring, you can suffer the effects of disrupted sleep.
If you are snoring, you are not sleeping well. It’s true that snoring happens when your muscles become deeply relaxed but that doesn’t mean you are getting restful sleep. Snoring is a sign that your airway is obstructed, either in your nose or your throat. Snoring is the sound produced as you struggle to get air in your lungs. This lack of restful sleep can leave you feeling tired and grumpy the next day. If you snore every night you may feel chronically tired.
The struggle to get air into your lungs can have an affect upon your physical health as well. It may cause an increase in your blood pressure and stress your heart and arteries. If your breathing becomes blocked, your oxygen saturation level can plummet and cause harm to your cardiovascular system or your brain. This means if you snore you may be at a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
The negative effects of snoring can extend into your daily activities. Because of poor sleep and the effects on your physical health, you may not be as productive at work. You may lack energy and stamina to go about your normal activities. You might not be as alert and are at a higher risk of automobile accidents. Because snoring can take a toll on your performance and overall well-being, it can contribute indirectly to depression.
Snoring caused by obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated because of the strain it places on your cardiovascular system. Not all snoring is that serious. You snoring may just be a source of embarrassment and irritation and not necessarily a threat to your health. You no doubt are anxious to find a way to end your snoring once and for all if for no other reason than to bring peace and harmony into your bedroom at night. The first step is to determine what causes you to snore so you can take corrective actions. You may be able to get relief from an over the counter stop snoring aid, you may need to lose weight, or you may need to have surgery. Relief from snoring could be as simple as changing your sleeping position. The important thing to know is that there is relief from the negative effects of snoring, all you have to do is search it out.
Filed under Articles by on Nov 5th, 2009. Comment.