Treatment for snoring depends on its cause, of its gravity, complications associated with it, including sleep apnea, and the discomfort it creates in those around you. If snoring is mild, losing weight and changing certain behaviors, such as quitting smoking, sleeping on your side, and avoiding sedatives and alcohol before bedtime, is enough to eliminate or reduce it. However, these measures, while important, are likely to be ineffective on their own in suppressing moderate or major snoring. In this case, classical medicine offers different approaches, some of which are described below.

Non-surgical treatments

Treatment of nasal congestion

Temporary congestion in the nose, such as a cold, can be treated with medication decongestants. In the case of chronic congestion, the doctor may prescribe a nasal steroid spray. Another method – approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration – is to use a nasal strip plastic (Breathe Right® Nasal Strips or Air Plus®). This elastic band is stuck on the nose and increases the opening of the nostrils, which facilitates the passage of air. It may take a few nights to relearn how to breathe through your nose (an average of 7 to 10 nights before you see improvement).

NB Dry nasal passages can also cause breathing problems in dry climates and during winter due to heating. Put in this case a humidifier in the bedroom.

Treatment of allergies

To better control allergies, eliminate as many allergens as possible from the house: animals, dust, carpets, etc. Antihistamine drugs may be recommended by the doctor.

Wearing a dental prosthesis

The treatment consists in wearing, at night, a dental prosthesis which advances the lower jaw by a few millimeters. The prosthesis, molded by the dentist, holds the lower jaw and the tongue forward, which has the effect of enlarging the opening of the upper airways. Several reviews, including one which covers 21 studies involving a total of 320 patients, conclude that this prosthesis is effective for the treatment of snoring.^2,3. However, her tolerance is average and she can be uncomfortable.

Wearing a CPAP machine

In cases of major snoring, but especially sleep apnea, wearing a CPAP (“Continuous Positive Airway Pressure” or “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation”) device often offers spectacular results. This consists of wearing a masque nasal attached to a small pump which forces ambient air to enter the mouth at a pressure slightly greater than atmospheric pressure. The air intake prevents the tissues from sagging. When the mask is well accepted, its effectiveness is excellent. However, it must be worn every night and is sometimes poorly tolerated. The choice of a mask requires the advice of a professional.

Palatal implants (the Pillar® system)

Approved by Health Canada in 2006, palatal implants are small polyester threads that the doctor places in the Palace soft, in an attempt to firm loose tissue that vibrates and causes snoring¹⁰. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. Efficiency is moderate¹¹.

Surgical treatments

Surgical treatments are especially recommended in the event of snoring with sleep apnea important. There is very little quality research that demonstrates sustained effectiveness of surgery for snoring alone. Moreover, these procedures are not without risk.

Classic surgery

The classic practice (called uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty) is to surgically remove part of the veil from the Palace or you read, or both, to widen the airways. If necessary, nasal polyps or tonsils can also be removed by surgery. It is an operation that is done under general anesthesia. In children, extraction of the tonsils alone (tonsillectomy) is the first treatment for snoring⁹. The hospital stay is 1 to 2 days and is followed by a recovery period of 1 to 2 weeks. The operation is effective in two thirds of cases.

Laser surgery

Laser treatment to remove part of the veil from the Palace is done under local anesthesia and sometimes requires several sessions (from 2 to 5). It is also painful. It can be effective especially in people who are not overweight. However, the positive results do not seem to last long term, and sometimes this treatment can even lead to increased snoring and apnea.

Radio frequency treatment

This recent procedure consists in reducing by cauterization the thickness of the tissues which obstruct the passage of air. This involves heating the subcutaneous tissues with a needle linked to a microwave generator. This heating causes a lesion which, by healing, retracts the veil by hardening the tissues. It is recommended to perform several low intensity sessions. The procedure takes about XNUMX minutes under local anesthesia. The pain that follows it seems more moderate than for conventional or laser surgery.

Research. A new procedure currently being tested uses theinjection a sclerosing chemical in the subcutaneous portion of the veil of the Palace. This product induces a retraction of the soft palate and thus widens the airways. According to the researchers who developed and tested it, this procedure is less expensive and less painful than the previous one and its rate of effectiveness is similar: of the 27 snorers who underwent the procedure as part of a study, 92% had not resumed snoring 2 months later; and 75%, 19 months later^4,5. Other studies with a small number of participants have confirmed the effectiveness of this technique¹¹. However, there is too little data to recommend this procedure. Further research is needed.