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Newest Surgery for Snoring: Somnoplasty

July 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Somnoplasty, the newest surgery for snoring, may provide a relief for some sleep apnea and snoring sufferers.

In 1997 this surgery was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat upper airway disorders.  Somnoplasty is a common sense solution for sufferers of sleep apnea and is an out patient procedure.

An ear, nose, and throat surgeon can perform operation using low-powered radiofrequency energy on the base of the tongue. The lesions created by this process are absorbed by the tissue and the remaining tissue is stiffer. This is preformed using local anesthesia and pain medication is only required for two to three days after the surgery.  In the past the same types of surgeries would require weeks of narcotics to cope with the after surgery pain.

Somnoplasty has very few side effects and there have been no reports of bleeding, infection or airway compromises.  There have been a few complaints of soreness immediately following the surgery. All patients that have undergone this newest surgery for snoring have reported absolute improvement in breathing.  Also over 75 per cent of patients reported a decrease in the severity and frequency of breathing problems. Most of the patients recorded decreased daytime sleepiness and a huge 77 per cent decrease in snoring.

Chronic snoring can also be treated by the newest surgery for snoring; it is still an out-patient procedure often preformed right in the doctor’s office.  The radiofrequency waves are used to reduce soft-palate tissue volume. The snoring has been shown to decrease significantly with this procedure.

Patients average a 69 per cent reduction in snoring and nearly 40 per cent reduction of waking tired after sleeping.  Also this surgery is safe enough to be used for the same problem twice if necessary to produce sufficiently taut skin and eliminate or decrease the incidence of snoring. Ask your doctor if you can enjoy a better quality of life by opting for this surgical procedure.

Insomnia Treatments

July 16th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Can’t sleep? You’re not alone. Many people suffer from insomnia and search for insomnia treatments.

There are many causes of insomnia, and perhaps the most common is stress, which causes transient insomnia - you can’t fall asleep for a few days.

For these people insomnia treatments include eliminating stress and dulling the pain that is keeping their mind focused on something other than falling asleep. In some folks, a system of preparing for bed is needed to clear their minds before attempting sleep. Getting ready for bed is usually more involved than pulling down the sheets and without proper preparation, sleep will be denied.

Medical Intervention May Provide Temporary Relief

Those suffering a temporary inability to fall asleep, and more importantly stay asleep for a reasonable amount of time, sleep aids may be helpful. However, using sleeping pills as insomnia treatments is not recommended by medical provider as the person can develop a dependency on them and many have undesirable side effects. Whenever a sleep problem exists, experts agree it is better to treat the symptom rather than the inability to sleep.

In extremely rare cases, there may be a hereditary problem called fatal familial insomnia in which the person lacks a specific gene that regulates sleep patterns. This ailment, although extremely rare, is almost always fatal with two or three years from the onset and insomnia treatments do not work.

Other forms of sleeplessness can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and insomnia treatments may include things as simple as practicing good sleep hygiene.

Do not take naps during the day, or stay away from stimulants such as caffeine, chocolate and alcohol within an hour of bedtime. Behavior modification may be necessary to reduce episodes of insomnia such as heavy physical activity at least an hour before bedtime and the importance of quiet time prior to going to bed.

A Sleep Disorder Center and treatments

July 4th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Sleep disorder centers are becoming more common in many cities, because it’s impossible to treat and diagnose sleep disorders without seeing what’s happening while you’re sleeping.

If you have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder, you may think that you have to live with it for the rest of your life.  But with all of the disorders that exist, such as narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Disorder, insomnia, parasomnia, and Restless Leg Syndrome, the thought of living the rest of your life with one of these is very intimidating.  Good thing you have options! 

You don’t have to live with one of these sleep disorders.  There are several things you can do.  You could visit your doctor and ask for medication.  You could also try changing some basic life behaviors.  For example, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that commonly affects people who are overweight.  Thus, if you suffer from sleep apnea, you might try losing weight to see if your symptoms go away. 

Other life changes you can make include reducing your caffeine consumption, reducing your alcohol consumption, and turning off the television several hours before you go to bed.  However, if none of these ideas have worked for you, it may be time to consider visiting a sleep disorder center.  A sleep disorder center will be able to give you a better idea of what your sleep disorder is and how it can be treated.

What Is a Sleep Disorder Center Like?

There are many sleep disorder center throughout the world.  Typically, the first thing that will happen at a sleep disorder center is that the doctor will ask you questions about your sleep and medical history.  From there, together you will make a decision as to what treatment would be best for you. 

Oftentimes, if more information is needed, the doctor will ask you to stay overnight in the sleep disorder center for an overnight study.  These overnight studies can be very informative.  During your overnight stay in a sleep disorder center, small sensors will be placed all over your body.  These sensors are able to retrieve information about your quality of sleep, brain activity, eye movements, muscle tone, and breathing aspects.  This information will be useful to your doctor in making a diagnosis and treatment plan.  Another tool that is used during your stay in a sleep disorder center is a camera; you will most likely be videotaped so that your movements can be observed. 

Does this all sound like too much pressure or too much of a hassle?  Well, the good news is that usually, only one night is required at a sleep disorder center.  The data gathered during the first night is generally enough for the doctor to make a diagnosis and treatment plan.  And then, you can be on your way to a good night’s sleep.

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