To learn more about how snoring and sleep apnea treatments can benefit you, contact our practice in Phoenixville, near King of Prussia and Pottstown.
826 Main Street
Suite 201
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460
Tel: 610-415-1100
Fax: 610-415-1101
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1201 County Line Road
Suite 101
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010
Tel: 610-520-0900
Fax: 610-520-0920
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525 Jamestown St
Suite 205
Philadelphia, PA 19128
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5 South Sunnybrook Road
Suite 300
Pottstown, Pennsylvania 19464
Tel: 610-326-3600
Fax: 610-326-4466
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255 Gordon Drive
Suite 101
Lionville, PA 19341
Tel: 610-524-5300
Fax: 610-524-0100
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525 Jamestown St
Suite 205
Philadelphia, PA 19128
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatments — Phoenixville, Pottstown, and King of Prussia
Snoring and sleep apnea are common sleeping disorders that affect men and women of all ages. Approximately 90 million American adults suffer from snoring, which can be a nuisance to others in the household. Snoring can also be a symptom that indicates a much more dangerous problem called sleep apnea. At Broker, Cramer & Swanson; Ear, Nose & Throat, our experienced surgeons provide a variety of ENT treatments, including snoring and sleep apnea treatments, to patients in the Phoenixville, Pottstown, and King of Prussia areas who suffer from sleep-disordered breathing.
Snoring
Snoring is a common condition that affects nearly 45 percent of adults, especially older males and overweight people. Snoring is caused when a person’s airway becomes partially blocked during sleep. When air flows past relaxed tissue in the throat, it creates a loud, hoarse sound. This sound, which most of us know as snoring, can become a nuisance to your partner and strain relationships with people you live with. Snoring may also be an indication that the individual is suffering from a more serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea. However, snoring treatments are available at our Phoenixville, King of Prussia, and Pottstown-area practice to help restore peace and harmony in the bedroom.
Causes of Snoring
Snoring is caused by relaxed tissues in the back of the throat that vibrate during sleep. When throat tissue becomes too relaxed, the airway narrows and sometimes even becomes closed off. As a result, it requires more force to push air through the throat and the surrounding tissue vibrates.
There are a number of factors that contribute to snoring, including:
- Poor tongue and throat muscle tone. Muscles that are too relaxed can cause obstruction of the airway, making it harder to breathe.
- Bulky throat tissue. People who are overweight and have excessive throat tissue or children with large tonsils may suffer from problem snoring.
- Long uvula. A long uvula in the back of the throat causes a loud fluttering that can make snoring worse.
- Nasal problems. Chronic nasal congestion or sinus symptoms, as well as a deviated septum, can make it difficult to breathe.
Snoring Treatments
Our practice offers a variety of snoring treatments to the Phoenixville, Pottstown, and King of Prussia areas to help patients and their loved ones find relief from troublesome and disruptive snoring and the adverse health effects that it causes. The type of snoring treatments recommended to each patient by our ear, nose, and throat surgeons depends on the diagnosis. Testing can reveal whether problematic snoring is caused by a deformity, infection, nasal allergies, or tonsils and adenoids. Our surgeons may recommend injection snoreplasty or one of the thermal ablation palatoplasty techniques, depending on the test results. These snoring treatments have been shown to be extremely effective at alleviating snoring and helping snorers and their loved ones get the restful sleep they need and deserve.
Injection Snoreplasty
Injection snoreplasty is one of many snoring treatments that our ear, nose, and throat surgeons offer to patients from Pottstown, Philadelphia, Phoenixville, King of Prussia, and nearby areas. During this innovative, safe, and effective nonsurgical treatment, a hardening agent called Sotradecol® (sodium tetradecyl sulfate) is injected into the upper palate in front of the uvula under local anesthesia. The injection creates a small blister that hardens and pulls the uvula forward to effectively reduce the loudness and frequency of snoring.
Patients who receive injection snoreplasty treatment may experience snoring for a few days after the procedure; however, snoring should decrease significantly after time. Patients may also experience a sore throat or other pain in the area of the injection, which can be alleviated with Tylenol™ or throat lozenges. Repeat treatments may be necessary for the most effective results. For more information on injection snoreplasty or other snoring treatments offered at our practice, contact our ear, nose, and throat surgeons today.
Septoplasty
A deviated septum is a condition in which the center wall of the nose is crooked or off-center, resulting in a narrowed nasal airway. This can result in noisy breathing or snoring while asleep, frequent sinus infections, and chronic congestion. Septoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct this problem and alleviate its effects.
Although septoplasty is commonly combined with rhinoplasty, they are not one and the same. A septoplasty is a purely non-cosmetic procedure that addresses only the inside of the nose and requires no exterior incisions. During surgery, sections of the septum may be removed or repositioned in order to open up the airway. Nasal packing is used to minimize bleeding and provide structural support during the post-operative period.
Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty
Thermal ablation palatoplasty (TAP) snoring treatments refer to a variety of techniques that can shrink or vaporize excess tissue to open up the airway. TAP snoring treatments can be performed by using laser or radiofrequency energy.
- Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) – a CO2 laser is used to vaporize obstructive tissue in the airway. LAUP can be used to shorten or remove the uvula, as well as parts of the upper palate, to alleviate snoring. LAUP is usually performed in a series of five treatments under local anesthesia.
- Radiofrequency Ablation – a needle electrode is used to shrink the uvula, parts of the palate, and even parts of the tongue and nasal turbinates to open up an obstructed airway.
These snoring treatments effectively reduce and even eliminate disruptive snoring in most patients. To learn more about the best treatment for your snoring, contact our practice today.
Diet, Exercise, and Lifestyle Tips
Patients who are light snorers may not need medical snoring treatments to find relief from the problem. Simple lifestyle changes can help to eliminate habitual and disruptive snoring as well as promote a healthier life. Patients can:
- Establish regular sleep patterns.
- Eat healthy and exercise regularly to maintain a good weight.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol or eating heavy meals at least four hours before going to sleep.
- Refrain from taking sleeping pills, antihistamines, and other tranquilizers before going to sleep.
- Sleep with their heads tilted upward.
- Sleep on their sides instead of their backs.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a very serious condition characterized by severe habitual snoring that is interrupted by repeated episodes of arrested breathing. Some obstructive sleep apnea episodes may last more than 10 seconds and occur up to 100 times in one night. Constant episodes can cause an individual to develop long-term health problems. Even though obstructive sleep apnea is common in adult males who are overweight, the condition can also be found in women and children as well.
Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Although the cause of obstructive sleep apnea is still unclear, doctors do know that the area that becomes obstructed is the soft palate near the base of the tongue. When an individual is awake, the palate muscles keep the airway wide open. However, when the individual falls asleep, the muscles relax, causing the airway to collapse and become blocked. This causes the person to stop breathing. When this happens, blood oxygen levels drop and blood pressure rises, forcing the heart to work much harder than usual. The sympathetic nervous system becomes stimulated and the brain becomes aroused. The individual then awakens suddenly to open the obstructed airway. These constant arousals disrupt important REM sleep that the body needs to replenish its strength.
Individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea must sleep lightly to prevent these episodes from occurring. Because of this, they do not receive adequate rest and may be tired during the day, further aggravating the problem. Not only does job performance suffer because of the sleep deprivation, but if obstructive sleep apnea persists, the individual can develop high blood pressure, weight gain, an enlarged heart, and other long-term health problems. Individuals may also suffer other consequences, including bedroom disharmony, failing relationships, and motor vehicle and other accidents. In children, obstructive sleep apnea and sleep deprivation can lead to mood swings, poor performance in school and sports, bedwetting, slow growth and development, and attention deficit disorder.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatments
Fortunately, obstructive sleep apnea can be treated at our ENT practice near Phoenixville and King of Prussia. We offer a number of sleep apnea treatments, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and continuous positive airway pressure. Our experienced ear, nose, and throat surgeons also perform tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for children suffering from pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. These treatments are effective at reducing and eliminating sleep apnea in both younger and older patients.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most prescribed and most effective nonsurgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The treatment involves using a special nasal mask connected to an air compressor that sends pressurized air into the windpipe, keeping the airway open. When used correctly, the mask is nearly 100 percent effective at eliminating both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. However, many individuals find it difficult and inconvenient to wear the mask every night. If this is the case, a surgical sleep apnea solution may be necessary.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the most common surgical procedure used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. During the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty process, the uvula and some areas of the soft palate are removed and the flabby tissues of the throat are tightened to widen the airway or eliminate the blockage. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty completely eliminates obstructive sleep apnea approximately 50 percent of the time and is an extremely effective snoring treatment.
Tonsillectomy / Adenoidectomy
The most common cause for obstructive sleep apnea in children is enlarged tonsils. If tests show enlarged tonsils as the cause of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, our ear, nose, and throat doctors may recommend that the child undergo tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy — the removal of the tonsils and adenoids. Both tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are effective treatments for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, with a 90 percent success rate. However, not every child is a good candidate for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Children who have mild obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, who have small tonsils, or who will undergo puberty in the relatively near future should not undergo tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy unless their symptoms become worse. Our ENT physicians can evaluate your child's obstructive sleep apnea problem and recommend the best treatment. Contact our Phoenixville and King of Prussia-area practice to schedule a consultation.
We Provide Exceptional Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatments
Our doctors can provide patients suffering from snoring or sleep apnea with effective treatments at our Phoenixville and Pottstown practice, also serving King of Prussia. Contact our ENT doctors today to schedule an appointment.