Stop Snoring - Palm Beach County, FL

Stop Snoring - Palm Beach County

Snoring is noisy breathing that occurs through the nose and mouth during sleep. Chronic snoring occurs nightly regardless of the sleeper's position and independent of other health issues.

Snoring occurs when the soft tissues in the throat vibrate and flutter and air does not flow smoothly through the air passageways. Snoring is caused by a multitude of causes. This includes a deviated nasal septum, enlargement of the tongue, an elongated uvula, floppiness of the soft palate and excessive throat tissues.

Snoring is a common problem affecting up to 75 million Americans. Estimates vary; however, it is felt that approximately 45% of all adults snore occasionally, and 25% snore habitually. Snoring affects mostly men and overweight individuals.

Snoring can cause great distress for the bed partners of snorers leading up to 80% of couples to end up sleeping in different rooms. Usually snoring causes sleep loss for the individual and their sleep partner. This sleep deprivation can have serious health consequences. Snoring has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. Sleep deprivation also causes daytime sleepiness, low energy, decreased productivity, memory loss, nightmares, reduced sex drive, and morning headaches.

Snoring may also be a sign of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). If a patient is a loud snorer with pauses in their breathing they may be experiencing sleep apnea. These pauses in breathing occur when the tissues of the soft palate, tonsils, uvula, and throat relax during sleep. This cuts off the supply of oxygen to the body causing the body to work harder to perform its normal functions.

There are three types of sleep apnea- obstructive, central, and mixed. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea. This is a result of an obstruction of the airflow through the nose and mouth. Central sleep apnea is less common and is caused by a disruption of the signals in the brain. The third type is a combination of obstructive and central.

There are numerous factors that influence snoring:

• If you are overweight, the tissues in the throat have less tone and more chance of vibration during breathing.
• Age is a factor. As we age, the throat muscles weaken and the tissues sag and flutter.
• An elongated uvula can restrict airflow and increase vibrations as you breathe.
• Enlarged tonsils and relaxed soft palate can narrow the airway.
• Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum or allergies can restrict airflow through the nose.
• Alcohol and sedating drugs can cause relaxation of the muscles of the throat and become floppy.

BREAKTHROUGH SNORING TREATMENT

A breakthrough treatment to stop snoring- the Pillar Procedure is currently available. The Pillar Procedure is specifically designed to treat the soft palate, one of the main contributors to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can be caused by vibration, collapse or obstruction of the upper airway tissue, including the soft palate, nasal airway, tonsils, adenoids, tongue or pharyngeal walls.

The Pillar Procedure is a minimally invasive treatment that is far more advanced than other stop snoring procedures because it does not involve surgically removing or heating tissues. Minimally invasive technology means less swelling and pain after the Pillar Procedure.

The Pillar Procedure is performed in the office setting and typically takes about 30 minutes to complete. The soft palate is numbed with a local anesthetic and three to five tiny woven polyester implants are inserted. This implant material has been used for over 50 years in implantable medical products. More than 25,000 patients worldwide have been treated with the Pillar Procedure.

The tiny implantable inserts stiffen the soft palate over time and reduce vibration, which is the main reason for the noise associated with snoring. Most patients resume normal activities and diet on the same day as the Pillar Procedure. Only mild to moderate discomfort is experienced which is easily controllable with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Most patients experience a lasting and noticeable reduction in snoring. Many patients see improvement in 6 to 9 weeks, while others take up to three months for the full stop snoring benefit.

• FDA cleared for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea
• Clinically proven and effective to help stop snoring
• One time, brief, "in-office procedure"
• Minimally invasive and relatively painless
• Very low rate of complications

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