What Is The Best Cure For Snoring
Posted on 28. Feb, 2010 by Pr_Web in Uncategorized
Snorers will find that there are many products and therapies to select from in the search for the best cure for snoring. The range includes nasal devices and dilators, snoring mouth guards, anti-snoring pillows, snoring chin straps, exercise therapies, all the way through to hypnosis.
Before trying any stop snoring therapies it is important to eliminate the possibility of the potentially dangerous condition of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be diagnosed by a a doctor or, more frequently, by attending a sleep clinic or laboratory.
It is also necessary to take care of any underlying health concerns that may have a bearing on your snoring.
Another option that can be considered by a snorer is to undergo surgery for the problem. Under some circumstances this can be the best cure for snoring and although the results may often prove to be disappointing there are several different types of surgery that can be performed.
Palatopharyngoplasty (PPP) is a type of surgery that enlarges the airway at the tonsillar area. The operation may involve the shortening the uvula, partial removal of the soft palate and removal of tonsils and adenoids. This is designed to increase the amount of airflow and reduce the amount of vibrating tissue in the throat.
This procedure may only be a temporary method of ending snoring. Research studies have suggested that within two years of the operation only fifty percent of the patients that have undergone this surgery report having their snoring stopped or markedly improved.
A less expensive alternative to palatopharyngoplasty is laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty – or LAUP – that employs laser technology to shorten the uvula as well as vaporize parts of the soft palate. Though palatopharyngoplasty must be performed under general anesthetic, uvulopalatoplasty can be performed as day surgery under local anesthetic.
LAUP’s effectiveness may be slightly better than PPP although many patients have reported that snoring returned within two years or so after surgery, although some studies have shown a decided improvement in the patient’s snoring.
A third type of surgery is cautery-assisted uvulopalatoplasty in which the surgeon uses a heated wire or electrode instead of a laser to burn or scar some or all of the uvula and palate. The success of this form of treatment is similar to other surgical operations to reduce snoring and this procedure is easy to perform and may be less painful than other treatments.
It should be noted, however, that most patients report severe post operative pain with any of these surgical procedures so surgery may not be the best cure for snoring.
