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| Snoring Wonders | • Treatment is necessary only when snoring is a feature of Sleep Apnoea. This is necessary to discuss treatment options with your physician.
Nowadays there are over 300 antisnoring devices registered: There are chin and head straps, neck collars, jaw braces, and electrical devices; Some are expensive, and some might be dangerous.
Some common-sense things which you can do to help your problem:
• Try increasing the humidity in your bedroom., since dry and swollen membranes can cause snoring.
• Check for allergies - they can cause swelling of tissues.
• Try to sleep on your side.
• Avoid smoking and drinking- both can aggravate snoring.
• Be sure to exercise regularly. This will help you to lose excess weight.
• Avoid tranquilizers and sleeping pills before bed time.
Your family doctor may refer you to an otylaryngologist (Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist) for assessment.
Surgery: to increase airflow in the airway, such as removing tonsils, or correcting a deviated septum, or eliminating extra tissue, can sometimes help with snoring.
Occasionally this procedure, called UPPP (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), is recommended. Such a procedure acts like an internal facelift, tightening loose tissue. Nevertheless, the success rate is only 50%.
It must be stressed that only your physician can determine what is the best treatment for you.
Lots of people are interested in the new Laser technology for performing surgery (LAUP).
Thus, recent TV shows have shown centers where this is done. Sometimes, the snoring is eliminated; but the sleep apnea remains. Again, all options need to be considered in consultation with your physician.
Since snoring may later develop into sleep apnea, just treating snoring without testing for and treating sleep apnea is like taking the battery out of a smoke alarm - snoring is often a warning of apnea.
It is yet another reason to consult with your doctor and to have an evaluation by a sleep disorders expert before and after treatment for snoring.
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