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Snoring has been used as a source of amusement in comics
and jokes for years, but if your sleeping partner snores, you know it's
no laughing matter. Throw out those earplugs--it's time to get serious
about snoring.
It's estimated that at least 45 percent of adults snore
occasionally and about 25 percent snore regularly. Snoring can be merely
annoying, but it is also a symptom of sleep disorders--an Ear, Nose and
Throat physician should evaluate the condition.
The vibration of relaxed, floppy tissues lining the upper
airway causes the sound you hear when someone snores. Weight loss, smoking
cessation, limiting alcohol consumption and reducing stress can help.
There are also a couple of medical procedures available for treatment.
John Ellis, MD, uses a non-surgical procedure called somnoplasty.
The procedure works by shrinking the muscles and tightening the soft palate.
"The real advantage to this, when compared with the methods used
a few years ago, is that there is very little pain," says Dr. Ellis.
"We used to use a laser to reduce the size of the uvula--recovery
could take 7-10 days. Since the person who snores isn't the one affected
or annoyed by the snoring, there was no real incentive to do it."
The procedure is done in the doctor's office and the
patient is awake throughout the treatment. A local anesthetic is applied
first, and then with the patient sitting up, radio-frequency energy is
passed into the palate, heated and then withdrawn.
"The procedure takes only about 20 minutes. The patient
should see some improvement over the next few weeks, if not, another treatment
may be needed."
Lynn Roh, MD, uses a similar treatment called coblation.
It also uses radio frequency, but at lower temperatures. And it, too,
may require repeated treatments. Floyd Sageser, a patient of Dr. Roh's,
has had several procedures in hopes of ending his snoring.
"In the past year-and-a-half or two years, my snoring
has really become objectionable. I'm fairly recently married and my bride
was complaining."
Sageser first had LAUP (Laser Assisted UvuloPalatoplasy).
It uses a laser to reshape the back of the mouth. He was not satisfied
with the results. He then was treated with coblation, twice--again without
satisfactory results. Finally, he had more extensive treatment, to reduce
the size of the nose tissue, tighten tissue under the tongue and at the
back of the throat.
"Mr. Sageser's case is very realistic. His primary
complaint is snoring, but he has other issues, including sleep apnea to
deal with. But he really just wants to stop snoring."
It's still too soon to tell if the latest treatment has
helped. "These treatments really don't cure anybody," says Dr.
Roh. "But we look at what can we really do that may help. Most people
will see some improvement."
The cost of somnoplasty and coblation range from about
$800-$1,500, depending on the number of treatments needed, and insurance
companies generally do not pay.
John Ellis, MD, can be reached at 816-229-7474.
Lynn Roh, MD, can be reached at 816-942-7200.
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