Best Cure For Snoring

Snorers have many devices and therapies to choose from when looking for the best cure for snoring. The range includes nasal devices and dilators, snoring mouth guards, anti-snoring pillows, snoring chin straps, exercise therapies, all the way through to hypnosis.

It is important to eliminate the possibility of the potentially life-threatening condition of sleep apnea before using any stop snoring therapies. Sleep apnea can be diagnosed by a a doctor or, more frequently, by attending a sleep clinic or laboratory.

It is also important to address any underlying health concerns that may have an impact on your snoring.

Another option that is available to a person who snores is to undertake surgery. Under some circumstances this can be the best cure for snoring and although the results may often prove to be disappointing there are several different types of surgery that can be performed.

Palatopharyngoplasty (PPP) is a type of surgery that enlarges the airway at the tonsillar area. The operation can include removal of tonsils and adenoids, shortening a long uvula and partial removal of the soft palate. This is designed to increase the amount of airflow and reduce the amount of vibrating tissue in the throat.

This procedure may only be a temporary method of ending snoring. Research studies have suggested that within two years of the operation only fifty percent of the patients that have undergone this surgery report having their snoring stopped or markedly improved.

A less expensive alternative to palatopharyngoplasty is laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) that makes use of laser techniques to shorten the uvula as well as vaporize parts of the soft palate. Though palatopharyngoplasty must be performed under general anesthetic, uvulopalatoplasty can be performed under local anesthetic.

LAUP’s effectiveness may be slightly better than PPP although many patients have reported that snoring returned within two years or so after surgery, although some studies have shown a decided improvement in the patient’s snoring.

A third type of surgery is cautery-assisted uvulopalatoplasty whereby the surgeon uses cauterizing equipment in lieu of a laser and a heated wire or electrode is used to burn or scar most or all of the uvula and palate. The effectiveness of this form of treatment is similar to other surgical operations for snoring and this procedure is easy to perform and may be less painful.

It should be noted, however, that most patients report severe post operative pain with any of these surgical procedures so surgery may not be the best cure for snoring.