Snoring can be experienced by most of the people irrespective of the age group. Snoring occurs when the rear tissues of the throat relax and vibrate during the sleep cycle. The sound can range anywhere from a mild disturbance to extreme loud. There are various ways to help reduce snoring from lifestyle changes to over the counter (OTC) medications. Some are as follows
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) :
As part of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, you wear a mask over your mouth and/or nose while you sleep. The mask is coupled to a device that continuously dispenses air further into nostrils. To prevent breathing from being hampered, the pressure of air entering the nostrils aids in maintaining the airways’ openness. There are more PAP machines available, such as the BiPAP, which has dual air pressure levels, and the VPAP, which has variable air pressure levels.
Generally the doctor would prescribe for over the counter ways but upon trying most or all of the methods, the person may not react to non-invasive therapies like mouthpieces or oral appliances, hence the problem of snoring can be persistent or controlled only to a certain extent. In such cases, surgery for snoring is considered as the vital option.
To cure this permanently there are various surgeries out of which the doctor would suggest one that’s most effective for the patient.
Pillar Procedure (Palatal Implant) :
The pillar technique, also known as a palatal implant, is a quick operation used to cure mild symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring. It entails surgically inserting tiny polyester (plastic) rods within the mouth’s soft upper palate. This keeps the tissue stiffer and less inclined to shake and snore as a result.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) :
As a way to keep the airway more open, a portion of the soft tissues at the back and top of the neck are removed during the UPPP, a surgical procedure carried out under local anesthesia. This comprises portions of the palate and throat walls as well as the uvula, which hangs at the mouth of the throat.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy :
In order to stop snoring, it may be medically advised to remove either the tonsils or adenoids or in some cases both.
Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) :
MMA is a significant surgical operation that advances both the lower (mandibular) and upper (maxilla) jaws to help you breathe more easily. The airways will be much more open, which might lessen the likelihood of blockage and lessen the likelihood of snoring.
Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation :
It is possible to maintain airways open and minimize snoring by stimulating the nerve that regulates the muscles in the upper airway. The hypoglossal nerve, which may be stimulated by a surgically implanted device. It turns on while sleeping and detects irregular breathing in the wearer.
Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction :
Sometimes snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be caused by a physical abnormality in the nose. A doctor would advise a septoplasty or even a turbinate reduction surgery in certain circumstances. The core of your nose’s tissues and bones are straightened during a septoplasty. The size of the tissue within your nose that helps to warm and moisten the air you breathe is reduced by a turbinate reduction.
Genioglossus Advancement :
The tongue muscle that connects to the lower jaw is pulled forward during the process of genioglossus advancement. The tongue becomes stiffer as a result and is less prone to relax when you sleep. This is done by making an incision with in the lower jaw around the tongue’s attachment point, and that bone will then be pulled forward to accomplish this. The bone is fastened to the lower jaw with a tiny screw or plate to keep it in place.
Hyoid Suspension :
The surgeon pushes ahead the tongue’s base and the elastic throat tissue known as the epiglottis during hyoid suspension surgery. This aids in widening the throat’s breathing passage to open wide to a higher extent. Since the surgery does not affect the vocal cords, there is no change in the voice of the patient post surgery.
Midline Glossectomy and Lingualplasty :
In order to increase the size of the airway, the size of the tongue is made smaller, by a surgery performed called midline glossectomy. The center and rear portion of the tongue are removed during one common midline glossectomy treatment. If necessary the surgeon could also trim the tonsils and remove a portion of the epiglottis.
Post Surgery Complications :
Generally there could be no to few complications post surgery such as a sore throat, difficulty in swallowing or laughing, irritation in the throat and mild pain in the throat area. These are again nothing to be distressed about as the patient would recover from these discomforts anywhere in between few hours to few days. In case of any major discomfort it is suggested to consult a doctor.
