Treatment of Snoring – Where to Start?

October11th,2010

Where to start for the treatment of snoring, folllowing are more detail of snoring treatment including not increase or reduce body weight, quit or reduce smoking, avoid taking tranquilizers and sleeping pills and not drink alcohol before bedtime

1. Do not increase or reduce body weight

If there are certain problems with impaired breathing during sleep increase in body weight by 10% of the initial parameters may impair breathing by 50%. This is usually accompanied by a transition to the next stage in severity OSA. We have seen patients who have a half – two years were recruited for 15-20% of body weight and from mild to severe OSAS fell with all its consequences in terms of significant deterioration in the quality of sleep, frequent nighttime urination, high blood pressure in hypertensive crises morning, morning headache, severe daytime sleepiness, irritability and other symptoms. Significant reduction in body weight may therefore significantly improve the situation.

2. Quit or reduce smoking

Smoking often causes chronic inflammation of the pharynx and trachea, accompanied by swelling of their walls, and decreased tone of the pharyngeal muscles. This, in turn, causes a narrowing of the airways and increases the snoring and OSA. It should, however, extremely cautious approach to the issue of smoking cessation in patients with OSA and obesity.

This can lead to a further increase in body weight and disease progression (see above) that would nullify the benefits of smoking cessation. In this situation, you should first attempt to substantial weight loss, and for those already addressed the issue of smoking. If you continue smoking, it is desirable at least to refrain from it for two hours before bedtime.

3. Avoid taking tranquilizers and sleeping pills

Tranquilizers and sleeping pills tend to reduce muscle tone and promotes relaxation of the pharyngeal muscles, which in turn may burden the snoring and OSA.

4. Do not drink alcohol before bedtime

Alcohol also relaxes the throat muscles, causing snoring and OSA. Human liver processes about 10-15 ml of pure alcohol per hour, so that we can accurately determine what dose and for how long to sleep you can have no impact on breathing during sleep. For example, in 100 ml of vodka contains 40 ml of pure alcohol, respectively, the negative effect of this dose will last about 2.5-4 hours. It should be emphasized at the same time refrain from taking alcohol and sleeping pills.

The Non-Surgical Treatments for Snoring

September1st,2010

A non-surgical treatment for snoring is possible by using a plastic plate that is clamped on the teeth and the lower jaw forward during sleep. This prosthesis is sometimes called MRA: mandibular (lower jaw =) repositioning (= displacement) Device. An MRA is effective for the treatment of snoring that occurs both at the level of the soft palate and the uvula and at the level of the back of the tongue and epiglottis.

There are several types of these implants on the market, which all use the same principle. An example is shown in the figure, there is a print (Bit) of the upper and lower teeth made, firmly on the tooth fits. The plastic bits are connected by two rods (see figure).

This is a prosthesis with a rod connection between the two parts of the prosthesis. The lower part of the prosthesis is to the teeth and under the upper part of the prosthesis is to cover the upper teeth. By (see arrow at one of) the rods, the lower part of the prosthesis, so the teeth and under the jaw it more forward force.

The device ensures that lying down while sleeping the mandible can not back down.Because the tongue is attached to the lower jaw, the tongue remains more appropriate and less easily falls into the throat. Airway retropharyngeal continues in this way is larger during sleep, thus reducing snoring occurs easily. In seven out of ten people has a plastic prosthesis good result. A disadvantage to mention that:

  • the prosthesis should be worn every night.
  • The prosthesis must be purchased while still not clear whether this prosthesis are tolerated (some people find wearing the prosthesis so uncomfortable that they refrain from their use).
  • Improper alignment of the jaw joints, pain may occur.
  • This method can not be applied to people with dentures.
  • The prosthesis is usually not reimbursed by the insurer, the costs range from € 230 .- to € 700 .-, depending on the type of prosthesis.

The Surgical Treatment of a More Rare Cause of Snoring

September1st,2010

In less frequent cases where the snoring occurs at the level of the back of the tongue , there are two surgical treatments of snoring:

1. Controlled scarring: stiffen the back of the tongue.

There is a feeling remains that there is something in the throat.
The back of the tongue can be made stiffer with the above described radio frequency energy or Coblation-therapy. A success rate of about 75% mentioned, but the results in the longer term is still little known. Disadvantages of treatment are:

  • Mild pain on swallowing for several weeks, after working a few days usually possible again.
  • This treatment is yet not always reimbursed by the insurer and the cost is about € 1.200 .-.

2. Removing a piece of the back of the tongue with the laser.

Part of the back of the tongue is removed using the laser to get more space in the airway behind the tongue to get. Long-term results of this are still unknown.Disadvantages of treatment are:

  • Swallowing is painful for two weeks, work in this period is not possible.
  • Deterioration of taste for a few weeks to sometimes a few months.

Surgical Treatment of Snoring

August30th,2010

If your snoring is caused by too narrow passage from the nasal cavity into the pharynx, the surgical treatment of snoring as following.

Sometimes the cause of snoring in the nose. A crooked septum, an allergy or polyps may cause nasal congestion. An allergy can be treated with medication. There may be a surgery on the nasal septum or removing polyps outcome too close to a larger cavity to make (it has a good effect in approximately one in ten people who snore and suffer from a stuffy nose). In children, snoring often be successfully contested by the throat and / or nose tonsils removed.

In most cases snoring is caused by too narrow passage from the nasal cavity into the pharynx, which is the space behind the soft palate and the uvula. There are currently two methods for surgical treatment of snoring.

1. Palato-pharyngo-Uvulo-plastic

The most effective way to remove the bulk of the uvula and soft palate (palato-pharyngo-uvulo-plastic: UPPP). This can be removed with a knife or with the laser, the patient has the same result. If tonsils are present, they are often removed.

The transition from the nose to the throat by this operation, wider, and the snoring disappears in about nine out of ten people, but after a few years is snoring in some people back, after five years working in the operation so only in seven of ten people. This is because there are some fat accumulates slowly in the uvula and soft palate. The surgical treatment of snoring operation also has disadvantages:

  • Immediately following the surgery was very painful swallowing. It sometimes takes two weeks, so at this time often work with.
  • There may be a dry feeling left in the throat or a feeling of a lump in the throat.
  • Pronouncing a hard “g” is not good anymore.
  • In exceptional cases the soft palate is too short, so the nasal cavity at the back no longer be properly closed. When will then drink liquid through the nose out. Usually this is a temporary issue, sometimes surgery, the soft palate with a bit more time is made.

2. Controlled scarring

A less effective but also less invasive, treatment is to stiffen the uvula and soft palate by means of controlled scarring. This is done using a needle at 3 to 5 points in the soft palate is inserted.Using vibrations (so-called radio frequency energy) or ionizing effects (coblatietherapie) the needle and the tissue heated to 85 degrees Celsius. There is no real burn, but there occurs a sort of melt in the depths of the soft palate. This creates scar tissue. A characteristic of scar tissue that is stiffer than normal tissue, so the palate is less easy to vibrate and snoring is less likely it will occur.

This surgical treatment of snoring is usually performed under local anesthesia. After treatment, the throat is sensitive over a week, but much less than after a palato-pharyngo-uvulo-plastic. In almost all patients, treatment should be performed twice in order to be successful, the two times must surely be two months. The treatment works in six out of ten people, but after a few years at one or two of these six people snoring does come back, like the UPPP. Because the treatment has only a few years in the Netherlands is carried out, the long-term outcome is still unknown. This treatment of snoring also has drawbacks:

  • In rare cases, as a complication of the surgery a hole in the soft palate occur, that a few weeks can hurt, but almost always naturally grows back together. If this is not the case, it can be concluded by a minor operation.
  • This treatment is yet not always reimbursed by the insurer and the cost is a little high.

Best Snoring Solution

July19th,2010

This article will introduce the real cause of snoring, and with the different snoring causes, there are conditional best snoring solution.

A good quality sleep is vital! For many, the rest is remedial, and adequate. Indeed, a Belgian family is faced with two snoring. A problem that may also cause tension between couples.Three quarters of snorers do not share the same bed as their partner.

1. Snoring: What’s this?

Snoring is the noise produced during sleep by vibration of the soft tissues of the nose, mouth and throat when the throat becomes narrower during sleep. This narrowing is caused by the relaxation of muscles.

A major cause of snoring is chronic congestion of the nasal passages. In this case, it is almost impossible to breathe normally through the nose during sleep, which explains why snorers begin to breathe through the mouth. And it is precisely this mouth breathing that can cause vibration of the soft tissues of the mouth and throat. Result: snoring and sleep disturbance.

Snorers, or more precisely their humming, buzzing and other drones, are often the object of ridicule. But only for a while, because we do not continue to laugh long. In fact, snoring has a significant impact on the quality of sleep. In addition, studies have shown that in the long term, snorers have a greater chance of developing cardiovascular disease.

2. The causes of snoring

One cause of snoring is the nasal airway narrowing when it goes down. But a number of factors may contribute to this shrinkage, and thus promote the snore.

Overweight (obesity) can cause an accumulation of fat around the throat. Drugs, alcohol and overuse may themselves, cause bulging muscles. Some other causes: the sleeping on the back, smoking, colds, allergies and polyps.

3. Best Snoring Solution 1 : nasal strips

The usual solutions are put ear plugs (ear plugs), sleeping alone, sewing tennis balls in pajamas (!)… These remedies are small may be the effect, but they can not address the main causes of problème.Une of snoring is nasal congestion. The nasal cavity is indeed part of the nose closer through which air circulates. But when they shrink, the air passage is blocked, making breathing through the nose more difficult. It is, among others, because of that we breathe through the mouth and one starts to snore.

Nasal strips (Breathe Right) gently pull the nose to remove the nostrils, which makes the nasal inspiration. With this system, the airflow increases to 31%. Therefore, three-quarters of snorers are relieved by this product since the strips to help them breathe through the nose when sleeping. This reduces or eliminates snoring completely. However, it should properly apply and position the strip to be effective.

These strips are sold at 6.99 euros to 16.99 euros and 10 strips for 30 strips (prices).

4. Other effective snoring solutions

  • Stop drinking alcohol two hours before bedtime.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Do not eat (too) heavy before bedtime.
  • Getting enough physical exercise.

Advice Anti Snoring

July17th,2010

Snoring is a disease that affects around a quarter of the population. Find all solutions to cut off the whistle. Following are advice anti snoring.

Some consider it a sound reassuring, others as a contemptible behavior. The Chinese, meanwhile, see it as an indicator of good health. However, for those around the snorer, snoring is often an irritant whose disappearance would be desirable. But where is he?

Snoring occurs when the inspiration during sleep, the soft tissue of the palate and uvula vibrate with the passage of air, like sails flapping in the wind.

Except in cases of sleep apnea, snoring is not considered a health problem and does not bother the buzzer. There are substantial concerns about the disruption it causes sleep with the snorer and his entourage. A humming through easily reaches a sound level of 45 dB to 60 dB (the sound of a voice), while a major snoring can exceed 95 dB, which corresponds to the noise of a passing truck! Obviously, this hinders the sleep of people who share the life of the snorer, to the point, sometimes, to cause chronic insomnia among them.

1. The overweight, the cause of snoring

Excess weight is the main cause of snoring: 75-90% of snorers are overweight. Result: the fat accumulates in the neck area and press the airways constrict. Snorers are on average larger than non-snorers.

All doctors will tell you if you snore and you are overweight, the best treatment is weight loss. To do this, exercise and diet are the watchwords. It is also advisable to consult a nutritionist to help you and guide you in your diet. Studies have shown that losing 5 to 7 kg can often eliminate snoring.

2. Some tips to reduce snoring

  • Avoid alcohol or sleeping pills, these two substances increase muscle relaxation in the throat, which causes a narrowing of the airways and thus aggravate snoring. In practice it is advisable to limit consumption of alcohol during the evening meal and not to resort to sleeping pills.
  • Quitting smoking: smoking cessation is important for your overall health, but also to reduce your snoring. Indeed, cigarette smoke irritates the airways, causing them to swell and tend to shrink in response, which exacerbates snoring. Thus, a study has shown that snoring is almost twice as common among smokers and former smokers than in nonsmokers.
  • Sleeping on your side or stomach, rather than on the back. The sleeping on his back snoring worse, promoting airway narrowing. As it is difficult to control its position during sleep, some snorers are using “tricks” not to sleep on their backs. The most common: sew a tennis ball in the back of the pajamas, which may wake you up the first few nights, but you will get into better habits!
  • Elevate the head and neck. In some people, sleeping with the head slightly elevated can reduce snoring and apnea. There are even anti-snoring ear that help to position the head, but their effectiveness varies.
  • Regular physical activity: this advice applies to everyone, buzzers or not. But in case of snoring, exercise reduces cardiovascular risk (increased in cases of apnea), help you lose weight and sleep better. A half-hour walk at a good pace each day is already a good start!

3. Medical Treatments

Any person who wishes to reduce his snoring should consult a doctor or a specialist (an otolaryngologist or ENT) and avoid buying anti-snoring devices available over the counter (nasal sprays, lubricants oral tablets, accessories, etc. .). These can be rather disappointing as they do not fit all, and that their effectiveness has not been scientifically validated by independent studies, in many cases. For proper treatment, the cause of snoring should be identified by a physician. Treatment for snoring will depend on its cause, severity, complications associated with it, including sleep apnea, and the nuisance it creates in the environment.

To eliminate hum medium or major, conventional medicine offers different approaches, with surgical treatments.

How to Treat Snoring

July12th,2010

This is one of the few diseases that do not bother him (or her) who suffers, following are some tips on how to treat snoring.

Snoring can be a nightmare for someone trying to sleep next door. What is the cause and what treatments are effective? Sum up.

Snoring is caused by a relaxation of the muscles that control the tongue and palate during sleep. In the passage of air when the buzzer inspires, these muscles begin to vibrate and produce a respiratory noise … The airways narrow and it is the vibration of the soft palate that produce this noise.

Sometimes the snoring can reach up to 100 decibels, equivalent to the noise caused by the passage of a truck. Snoring affects 60% of men over 50 years, but some postmenopausal women may also snore.Some factors increase the occurrence of snoring: obesity, aging, alcohol, smoking but also a stuffy nose, large tonsils, polyps or even a deviated septum …

Sometimes a change of lifestyle habit is enough to overcome the noise: stop sleeping pills, do not consume alcohol in the evening, eat a balanced diet, doing sports …

Medical treatment and medication consists of nasal or oral sprays that have only very limited results.

Your dentist can custom manufacture mandibular prostheses that will help you take off the language of the palace during sleep … Not very aesthetic to sleep!

Otherwise, a professional may prescribe the wearing of a device, a mask which is connected to a pump system to move air into the airway. The main thing is to be relaxed before surrendering in the arms of Morpheus! What is not won …

The last option is to surgically remove part of the soft palate (uvula) to expand the airway. The operation is under general anesthesia and requires hospitalization for at least two days.

Alternatively, laser surgery is performed under local anesthesia may also reduce the soft palate …

Natural Treatment for Snoring

July8th,2010

The natural treatment for snoring has several therapeutic methods some of which are advertised, but are not always effective. It is therefore necessary to have a medical advice.

1. The lifestyle modifications are necessary and can in themselves be sufficient to significantly reduce snoring. These measures include avoidance of factors that contribute to snoring.

It is therefore necessary:

  • losing weight (if needed)
  • stop smoking (which produces an inflammation of the throat and nose),
  • not to consume alcohol in the evening (which relaxes the throat muscles during sleep)
  • not to take sleeping pills or tranquilizers (for the same reason)
  • avoid sleeping on your back (for example, by sewing a tennis ball in the back of the pajama), if the snoring occurs preferentially in this position.

2. Conventional surgery

The surgical pharyngotomy or palato-pharyngoplasty-uvulo (UVPP) surgery under general anesthesia, which carries a resection of the uvula and part of the soft palate and tonsils for widening the gap at the throat and decreasing vibrations causing the snoring. Taking advantage of general anesthesia, a gesture in the nose (deviated septum) can be associé.Les results, taken together, show about 80% of patient satisfaction and spouse in the short term. Snoring does not always disappear completely and may recur in some patients after several years (about 50% of satisfaction to 5 years). Side effects are essentially after surgery, a risk of bleeding, pain throat important, lasting 8-15 days, which requires the use of drugs against pain and a semi-liquid diet and cold for 8 days. The complications may be transient occurrence of infection, nasal regurgitation during swallowing, modify the timbre of the voice (results in nasal speech). They are rarely definitive.

3. Surgery by laser

Called uvulo-palatoplasty, the operation is usually performed under anesthesia locale.Le gesture is not to remove a small portion of the veil and luette.Les results are comparable to those of surgery conventionnelle.Les side effects and complications are reduced in frequency and pain less intense and less operative prolonged. Sometimes several sessions are needed.

4. Radiofrequency

This is the most recent treatment and ronflement.L simplest operation is to introduce an electrode into the soft palate under local anesthesia and to spend a brief electric current to shrink tissues and reduces vibration of the soft palais.Les the results are comparable to those of conventional surgery or laser surgery. The advantage is simplicity and low residual pain but several sessions are sometimes necessary.

5. Alongside these conventional treatments, there is a mechanical treatment of snoring that uses a device called a Nasal Dilator External. It widens the nasal passage and thus reduce the need to breathe through the mouth.

The results of this treatment are controversial, but one benefit seems to be perceived by patients with chronic rhinitis.

6. Some doctors in the USA recommend the use of a brace of advancement of the mandible that is worn during sleep. This dental appliance widens the pharynx and restore normal traffic flow respiratoire.Mais its long-term risks are not yet well determined.

My Use of Anti Snoring

July7th,2010

If you are bothered by the snoring of your spouse, here are some solutions to test, adapt, or even to combine. Using anti-snoring devices, the simplest or the most radical.

1. A five French snoring

Nearly one in five French snores, and one in two households is concerned. What causes snoring? In a relaxation of the muscles of the mouth and throat during sleep. The uvula and soft palate collapse, blocking more or less the airflow, especially during inspiration, which causes sound vibrations. Many factors contribute to the airway obstruction: the position on his back, nose clogged by a cold or allergic rhinitis, smoking, alcohol, sleeping pills and tranquilizers, overweight. In children, snoring may be due to vegetation and / or tonsils of significant size.Finally, the sleep apnea syndrome is also a very common cause of snoring.

1. Go to bed before the buzzer. Being in a deep sleep makes them less susceptible to hum.

2. To cause the change of position. The whistles or a slight nudge can cause discomfort prompting the snorer to change sleeping positions. The ideal is to ask to sleep on the side or on the belly and not on the back. The old technique for sewing in the back of the pajamas a little ping-pong example, sometimes works by preventing the supine position. To this end wedges foam or air bags are an alternative. For gadget lovers: there are bracelets snoring detectors that send a mild electric shock, forcing the snorer to change his position.

3. drops, creams or sprays. These products facilitate the passage of air into the airways by thinning the lining of the nose and / or relieve the nostrils, which limits the vibration. Their effectiveness is often limited or short.

4. Accessories. Designed to expand the openings of the nose, they appear for example in the form of a nasal dilator, so to put fins on the nose, like those used by athletes to breathe more easily.

5. The mandibular advancement. It is a kind of dental prosthesis, which moves the jaw forward to facilitate the passage of air. This device is also recommended in cases of sleep apnea.

6. Wearing an oxygen mask. Used to treat sleep apnea, the breathing mask continuous positive airway pressure is effective. He breathes the air force and the opening of the airways. This treatment is also beneficial to the buzzer. However, it is very restrictive because it requires an oxygen apparatus, not always very quiet.

7. surgery. Radical, it is to unclutter the throat, to shorten the soft palate, removing the uvula and / or tonsils. It is proposed in case of failure of medical treatment.

Treatment for Snoring

June30th,2010

To identify the cause of snoring, a medical consultation is necessary. The treatment for snoring options are following:

1. In case of nasal obstruction: the need to decongest the nose or treat chronic allergies involved. Learn more nasal congestion.

2. Sagging muscles of the throat can wear a denture during the night, to move the jaw. For more information: the anti-snoring dental orthosis.

3. Some treatments sold in pharmacies, for dilating the nostrils or lubricate the palate may be effective in cases of snoring children: anti-snoring solutions.

4. In case of apnea, wearing a breathing mask at night is the most effective solution: the ventilation unit (CPAC).

5. In case of significant snoring or sleep apnea, surgery can be considered with your doctor: anti-snoring surgery or radiofrequency ablation.

6. If surgery scares you, you can try the soft cannula anti-snoring.

7. Finally, natural treatments can be tried, with varying degrees of effectiveness.

Also visit: CPAP Mask Tips Allergy Medicine