SNORING

The noisy sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the free flow air through the  passages at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the collapsible part of the airway ( see illustration) where the tongue and the upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Snoring occurs when these structures strike each other and vibrate during breathing.

 

   

BAD EFFECTS

Snoring makes others sleepless & thus the snorer may become an object of ridicule. The snoring leads to apnea (cessation of  breathing) which causes decrease in the oxygen intake and this lack of oxygen (hypoxia) results in high blood pressure. Moreover, during this process there is accumulation of the carbon dioxide which has bad effect on the heart. The disturbed sleep due to snoring may result in the day time sleepiness and there may be difficulty in concentration with poor memory.

 

THE TREATMENT OF SNORING

The treatment depends on the severity of snoring and apnea. Mild to moderate obstructive causes should be corrected surgically if required. Once the cause for obstruction of the air way is correction of the uvula and palate is considered.  In case there is snoring even after the nasal surgery, then laser.

 

LAUP i.e. Laser Assisted Uvulo-palatoplasty

This is the most recent and the latest Lase procedure available which can be done as an out patient procedure or  other wise as a day care surgery and the patient is sent home the same day.