|| Treatment for Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Trinity, East Lake, Safety Harbor and Surrounding Areas ||

Sleep Apnea (Snoring)

Sleep Apnea (Snoring) is not funny, is not hopeless and is a curable disease. In addition to traditional treatments, there are surgical techniques available for treating sleep apnea. Dr. Jose Berrios is trained in these and invites you to learn more about your options.

Do You Have Sleep Apnea? Find out here.

Forty-five percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight persons and it usually grows worse as people age.

More than 300 devices are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as cures for snoring. Some are variations on the old idea of pinning a sock that holds a tennis ball on the pajama back to force the snorer to sleep on his side. (Snoring is often worse when the person sleeps on his back.) Some devices reposition the lower jaw forward; some open nasal air passages; a few other have been designed to condition a person not to snore by producing unpleasant stimuli when snoring occurs. But if you snore, the truth is that it is not under your conscious or unconscious control; if anti-snoring devices work, that is probably because they keep you awake.

What Causes Snoring?

The noisy sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air though the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. this are is the collapsible part of the airways (see illustration) where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. When these structures strike each other and vibrate during breathing, that is snoring.

Is Snoring Serious?

Socially—yes.
It can be, when it makes the snorer an object of ridicule and causes others sleepless nights and resentfulness.

Medically—yes.
It disturbs the sleeping pattern and deprives the snorer of appropriate rest. When snoring is severe (see below), it can cause serious long-term health problems.

When loud snoring is interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing, it is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Significant episodes last more than 10 seconds each occur more than 7 times per hour. Seriously affected patients may experience hundreds of such events per night. These episodes can reduced the blood oxygen level, which causes the heart to pump harder.

The immediate effect of sleep apnea is that the snorer is forced to sleep lightly to keep his muscles tense in order to maintain air flow to the lungs. Because such a snorer does not get enough deep restful sleep, he awakens unrefreshed, is drowsy in the daytime, is a hazardous (sleepy) driver, and his work effectiveness may suffer. After many years with the disorder, elevated blood pressure and heart enlargement may occur.

Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment: Can Heavy Snoring Be Cured?

Heavy snorers, those who snore in any position or who are disruptive to the family, should seek medical advice to ensure that sleep apnea is not a problem. An otolaryngologist will provide a thorough examination of the nose, mouth, throat, palate, and neck. A sleep study in a laboratory environment may be necessary to determine how serious then snoring is and what effect(s) it has on the snorer's health.

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. An examination will reveal if then snoring is caused by obstructive sleep apnea, nasal allergy, infection, deformity, or tonsils and adenoids.

Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea may respond to various treatments now offered.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) Utilized for Snoring entails removal of the uvula and partial removal or reduction of the soft palate.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Removal of both tonsils or tonsil tissue (if any)
Hyoid Myotomy Done for patient with retrognathia (Inverted jaw or no chin). The jaw being inverted causes the tongue and soft palate to create an obstruction and/or airway difficulties while sleeping. Genioglossus Advancement is also done in conjunction with the myotomy.
Genioglossus Advancement Reconstruction of the mandible for retrognathia.
Laser-Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) treats snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea by removing the obstruction in the airway. A laser is used to vaporize the uvula and a specified portion of the palate in a series of small procedures in a doctor's office under local anesthesia.
Partial Glossectomy Utilizing radio frequency ablation of the base of tongue for tongue reduction due to base of tongue hypertrophy.

If surgery is too risky or unwanted, the patient may sleep every night with a nasal mask that delivers continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) into the throat.

A chronically snoring child should be examined for problems with his or her tonsils and adenoids. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy may be beneficial to return the child to full health.

Is Snoring Serious?

Adults who suffer from mild or occasional snoring should try the following self-help remedies:

Reduce weight with an athletic lifestyle and healthy eating habits.
Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines before bedtime.
Avoid alcohol for at least 4 hours before bedtime and heavy meals or snacks for 3 hours before retiring.
Establish regular sleeping patterns.
Sleep on you side rather than back.
Tilt the head of your bed upwards 4 inches.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that results from the partial or total obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. When tissue in the back of the mouth, throat, and/or nose obstructs airflow during sleep, suffer an apnea (total interruption of the flow of air to the lungs for at least ten seconds) or a hypopnea (partial interruption). When this occurs, the body responds by interrupting sleep to restart breathing. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that can have a long-term impact on your health. Because obstructive sleep apnea cause you to stop breathing the oxygen levels in your blood drops, forcing your heart to work harder. Sleep apnea can be associated with cardiovascular diseases and impaired daytime function.

Testing

Typically an over night sleep test is the accepted method of evaluation. After a careful examination of your medical history our physicians will discuss your diagnostic alternatives.

Treatment

There are many alternatives but somnoplasty is minimally invasive. There are face masks that affect airway pressure and surgery that can be performed to increase the air passage.