Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Snoring & Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Did you know that 40 million Americans snore and that approximately 1/3 have Sleep Apnea. In many instances, snoring is the first indicator of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS).
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea
When a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep
Breathing stops because the airway collapses and prevents air getting into the lungs
Sleep patterns are disrupted, resulting in excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day
What causes the airway to collapse during sleep?
Extra tissue in back of throat like large tonsils
Elongated (long) uvula , decrease muscle tone of the soft palate
The tongue falling back and blocking airway during sleep
What happens if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not treated
Possible increased risk for:
High blood pressure
Heart disease and heart attack
Stroke
Fatigue, motor vehicle and work related accidents
Decreased quality of life
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is potentially life threatening..
A diagnosis of sleep snoring can be evaluated by our physicians. Is there a cure? Yes, most adults can benefit from general measures and or specific treatments including surgery
Snoring.
What causes snoring
Poor muscle tone in tongue and throat
Excess bulkiness of throat tissue?.large tonsils and adenoids
Long or elongated Uvula and soft-palate
Obstructed nasal passages due to deviated septum or swelling of turbinates from allergies
New office procedures for the treatment of snoring include:
injections with chemicals to firm up soft palate
snore plasty, using laser to resect the Uvula and or the soft Palate
?Somnoplasty , the use of radio frequency under local anesthetic too firm up the soft palate .
