Gotta Stop Snoring

Posts Tagged ‘what is the best cure for snoring’

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.

It is important to eliminate the potentially dangerous condition of sleep apnea before trying any stop snoring therapies. 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. Occasionally this may provide 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 can include shortening an elongated uvula, partial removal of the soft palate and removal of tonsils and adenoids. This is designed to increase the airflow and reduce the amount of vibratory tissue in the throat.

This procedure may only provide a temporary means of ending snoring. Some research studies suggest that within two years only forty percent of snorers that have undergone this surgery continue to report having their snoring stopped or definitely lessened.

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. Uvulopalatoplasty can be performed under local anesthetic unlike palatopharyngoplasty, which must be performed under general anesthetic.

The effectiveness of the LAUP procedure may be marginally better than PPP, however, many patients report that snoring returned within two years or so after surgery, though there are also studies that show marked improvement in the patient’s snoring.

A third type of surgery is cautery-assisted uvulopalatoplasty whereby the surgeon uses cauterizing equipment in lieu of a laser and a heated wire or electrode is used to burn or scar most 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 is worth noting, 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.

Originally posted 2010-04-07 03:00:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter