Stop Snoring Remedies

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. An examination will reveal if the snoring is caused by nasal allergy, infection, deformity, or tonsils and adenoids. Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea may respond to various treatments now offered by many otolaryngologist.

Medical Treatment

The treatment options include :

1. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery for treating obstructive sleep apnea. It tightens flabby tissues in the throat and palate, and expands air passages. This is often prescribed for people who have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea.
2. Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) treats snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea by removing the obstruction in the airway. A laser is used to shrink the uvula and tighten a specified portion of the palate in a series of small procedures in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia.
3. Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) refers to procedures and techniques that treat snoring and some of them also are used to treat various severities of obstructive sleep apnea. Different types of TAP include bipolar cautery, laser, and radiofrequency.
4. Genioglossus and hyoid advancement is a surgical procedure for the treatment of sleep apnea. It prevents collapse of the lower throat and pulls the tongue muscles forward, thereby opening the obstructed airway.
5. Somnoplasty. This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radio frequency energy to shrink excessive tissue in the palate, uvula, and tongue tissue. This treatment can also be used to relieve nasal obstruction.
6. Tonsillectomy. This procedure involves removing the tonsils and adenoids as this may be needed to prevent snoring, particularly in children.
7. Another option can also be the injection of sclerosing agents into the soft palate. These agents cause the tissues of the pharynx to scar, and as the scar evolves, the tissues also shrink.

Treatment By Using Mechanical Devices

The treatment options include :

1. The most commonly used devices currently are CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, devices. These are usually used when sleep apnea syndromes are also present. CPAP devices are machines that generate air pressure through a mask on the nose and mouth to form an air splint in the throat while asleep. The pressure keeps the airway from collapsing thus preventing snoring. Various masks are now available which can help individualize this treatment a great deal.
2. Biphasic Positive Airways Pressure (BiPAP). This machine blows air through a nose mask at two different pressures. When one breathes in, the pressure is higher and when one breathes out, the pressure is lower.
3. Other mechanical devices also include oral appliances. These are specially formed and fitted dental mouth pieces that can pull the tongue forward, advance the lower jaw, or both. Again the effect results from opening the diameter of the airway in the throat area reducing or preventing snoring. While some of these are available without medical guidance, many dentists specialize in tailoring these devices for patients affected by snoring.