Aug 27 2008
Laser Treatment: A Surgical Fix for Snoring
Snoring is a sleep disorder that affects nearly 90 million Americans and their partners. It can affect a person’s physical and emotional, signal serious health threats, and lead to sudden death. Unfortunately, many people who snore believe it is a bothersome condition rather than a health issue and, therefore, do not seek to remedy it. There are, however, a variety of treatments for snoring, ranging from herbal remedies and lifestyle changes to devices and surgery. As the surgeries designed to reduce or cure snoring become less invasive, more physicians are recommending them and more patients and their partners are choosing to under go them. This article will investigate the details of laser treatments for minimizing snoring. Laser snoring treatment seems to be quite effective.
Snoring is caused by vibrations of soft tissue, specifically the uvula and tongue, in the mouth and throat. The vibrations occur when a person breathes. Breathing causes the air passage to narrow and as this narrowing occurs, the soft tissue in the back of the mouth can obstruct the airway. When the airway is completed obstructed during sleep, breathing becomes interrupted and a person is said to be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is fatal and snoring can be a sign that a person suffers from the serious condition.
The obstruction of a snoring person’s airway is many times caused by more than usual tissue in the uvula or soft palate (the part of the mouth to which the uvula is attached). Removing this excess tissue via a laser snoring treatment can relieve or reduce snoring. One surgical approach is called Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). There are currently two types of laser treatments for snoring. The standard laser snoring treatment procedure is designed to slowly reduce the patient’s relaxed soft palate over three to five treatments. No tissue is removed in this laser treatment; instead, the palate is scarred slightly with the laser and then tightened.
A new, one-step laser snoring treatment also is available. This treatment to relieve snoring removes in one treatment cycle the same amount of palate tissue as is removed in the standard laser treatment described above. This laser snoring treatment is performed with the patient awake and sitting up under topical and local anesthetic. A laser is then used to remove the uvula and the excess soft palate tissue. The procedure typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes. Patients may experience a sore throat when eating for a week or so following the laser snoring treatment but are able to participate in normal daily activities immediately.
Remarkably, snoring is eliminated or significantly reduced in 95% of the patients undergoing a laser snoring treatment. A noticeable reduction in snoring is apparent immediately following treatment. Additional improvement occurs over the three to four weeks following surgery. In the five percent of patients who do not see a noticeable reduction, a second laser snoring treatment can be conducted.
A recent clinical study shows that out of 220 patients who underwent this one-step laser treatment, 97% were satisfied with the surgery. Approximately 85% of the patients showed a 75% to 100% elimination of all snoring after one laser snoring treatment. In addition, there have been no serious side effects or complications reported due to the laser treatment. Patients report no issues with speech or swallowing.
Laser treatments can also cure the potentially fatal disorder called sleep apnea by removing the excess tissue that is blocking the airway. Most patients with sleep apnea see significant improvement following the laser treatment.
If you or your bedmate suffers from severe snoring or sleep apnea, know that there are treatments that can reduce and/or eliminate your snoring problem. Laser treatments are one minimally invasive approach that is showing significant promise.
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