Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Snoring & Sleep Apnea Solutions in Raleigh
Almost fifty percent of healthy adults snore occasionally, while half of them are habitual snorers. Many times, the problem afflicts individuals who are overweight. If the problem is not treated it typically gets worse with age.
What Causes People to Snore?
The obstruction to the free flow of air through the passage at the back of the mouth and nose will cause the annoying sounds of snoring. This area is the collapsible part of the airway where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. When they make contact and vibrate during breathing, snoring will occur. Some common causes include:
- Blocked nasal airways – If the nose is blocked, it requires extra effort to pull air through. This creates a larger than normal vacuum and pulls together the floppy tissues in the throat, and the end result is snoring. In some cases snoring only takes place when you are sick with a cold or sinus infection, or during the hay fever season.
- Excessive throat tissue – Often overweight individuals have bulky neck tissue, which can cause snoring. Children with large tonsils or adenoids may also snore.
- Weak muscles in the throat and/or enlarged tongue base – When muscles are too relaxed the tongue may fall back into the airway and pull in air from the sides of the throat. This can also happen if you are sedated by alcohol or medications.
Tips for the Occasional Snorer
- Tilt the head of your bed up approximately four to six inches.
- Don’t consume alcohol at least four hours prior to bed.
- Don’t eat big meals at least three hours prior to bed.
- Practice regular sleeping patterns.
- Try sleeping on your side instead of your back.
- Implement a healthy lifestyle with more exercise, better nutrition, and weight loss, if possible.
If these tips don’t improve your snoring, and/or you are disruptive to your family, then you should seek medical advice to ensure your snoring is not a serious problem.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by a pause or slowing of breathing while sleeping. Although a diagnosis of sleep apnea often will be based on an individual’s medical history, there are many tests that can be used to substantiate the diagnosis. The treatment of sleep apnea may be either nonsurgical or may require surgery.
This is a very serious condition and may be fatal if the episodes last over ten seconds and occur more than five times an hour. This can result in reduced blood oxygen levels to the brain, forcing the snorer to wake up briefly many times during the night, resulting in a lighter sleep preventing the snorer enjoying the rest benefits of a deep sleep. Individuals with this disorder may experience heart enlargement and high blood pressure.
Our Procedures & Solutions for Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Coblation is a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes a needle electrode that releases radiofrequency energy to contract excess tissue in the upper airway including the palate and the uvula (for snoring), nasal turbinates (for chronic nasal obstruction) and the base of tongue (for obstructive sleep apnea).
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the most frequent procedure for snoring and sleep apnea. This surgery involves the removal of the uvula, part of the soft palate, and the tonsils from the throat
UPPP is often successful in stopping the throat structures from rattling and causing snoring. However, it may not successfully treat sleep apnea, because tissues farther back in the throat could still block the air passage. This procedure involves general anesthesia and a short hospital stay. Full recovery normally takes about one month.
These are two of the solutions we offer for snoring and sleep apnea but Dr. Holmes will recommend a course of action to specially treat your particular symptoms.
Would You or a Loved One Like to Stop Snoring?
Our team can help. Please call us at 919-782-9003, request and appointment through our Patient Portal, or simply fill out the form on our Contact Us page and a member of our team will contact you shortly.
