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Can snoring be cured? The success of therapy depends on the accuracy of diagnostic methods. If it is possible to establish the true cause of night snoring and find an effective treatment, then the problem can be eliminated. Most often it is about surgery. One of the methods is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. This is an operation during which excess tissues of the oral cavity are excised, which makes it possible to expand the lumen of the respiratory tract. As soon as breathing returns to normal, nocturnal snoring disappears. Soft tissues that can interfere with the natural process of breathing are enlarged tonsils, adenoids, and uvula. In some cases, it is necessary to remove part of the soft palate. The proliferation of soft tissues may be due to hereditary predisposition or be the result of certain diseases and pathologies.
Why snoring should be treated
Night snoring negatively affects the quality of sleep. As a result, a person experiences chronic lack of sleep, becomes irritable, nervous, and may experience a decrease in immunity. In addition, the psychological aspect of the issue also plays a role – if you need to sleep outside the home or in the presence of strangers, discomfort can occur that provokes insomnia.
But the main problem is temporary cessation of breathing. Sleep apnea negatively affects the cardiovascular system. As a result, hypertension develops, there is a risk of stroke and heart attack.
It is important to understand that snoring indicates the development of certain pathologies. And the sooner a person turns to a specialist in order to establish the correct diagnosis, the less sad the overall consequences for the body will be. Which specialist should be contacted first? Otolaryngologist – this specialist will be able to examine the condition of the upper respiratory organs and identify the causes that provoke snoring.
It will not be superfluous to visit an endocrinologist, since thyroid pathologies have the same symptoms. If a person is overweight, an additional consultation with a nutritionist will be required.
Snoring treatment
Snoring therapy always begins with a diagnostic complex. At the initial stage, a complete examination by an otolaryngologist follows. To obtain a clearer picture, a comprehensive study of sleep is used – during the study, the fact of apnea is confirmed or denied, the duration and quality of sleep are monitored.
The patient is advised to completely give up bad habits and reorganize the daily routine in such a way that there is enough time for outdoor walks, sports, sleep and rest. In some cases, a good effect is given by special breathing exercises, applied using specific devices. But if pathologies or defects of the nasopharynx are detected, only radical therapy will help.
When to see a doctor
The addition of other undesirable symptoms to night snoring indicates an aggravation of the disease and is the reason for visiting a specialist. The main signs indicating the pathological effect of snoring on the body:
- a state of constant fatigue, chronic lack of sleep;
- memory impairment, difficulty concentrating;
- depressed mood, depression;
- increased irritability;
- anxiety;
- decreased interest in sex.
To eliminate these symptoms, the patient may be prescribed uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Real improvements are noted immediately after the operation. And approximately 90% of patients maintain a long-term positive effect. The operation is prescribed only in the case when less radical methods of therapy have not brought the expected result.
The essence of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
The main goal of surgical intervention is to increase the lumen of the airways. It is achieved by completely removing the uvula, excising part of the soft palate and removing excess tissue around the throat. In some cases, removal of adenoids and polyps is required. During the operation, the patient is under general anesthesia.
An ordinary scalpel can be used to excise tissues, and special sutures are applied to surgical wounds. In this case, the scars formed at the site of excision serve as a kind of strengthening of the soft palate, preventing sagging of its tissues and recurrence of the pathology.
In the event that a patient has a predisposition to the growth of scar tissue, a laser beam or radio frequency waves can be used during the operation. In this case, the excess tissue cells are destroyed by a precisely directed heat flow, and no scars remain at the excision site.
The recovery period is quite long – 14-21 days. At this time, the patient must follow a special diet that prevents the occurrence of irritation in the area of excision. During the first 7-10 days after surgery, it is important to regularly gargle with antiseptic solutions, especially after eating or walking outside.
During the postoperative period, pain in the throat is not excluded. With severe discomfort, you should contact a specialist who can choose medications that reduce pain. Self-administration of painkillers makes it difficult to notice the development of complications in a timely manner.
Possible postoperative complications
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is rarely accompanied by complications. Less than 5% of patients may bleed. In the high-risk group, people who have systemic blood diseases that cause clotting disorders. With the removal of adenoids and tonsils, the risk of developing complicated bronchitis and pneumonia increases.
Remote organs acted as a kind of barrier protecting the lower respiratory tract from pathogenic microflora and cold air, so local immunity may not immediately respond correctly to anatomical changes in the respiratory system.
During the operation, as well as during the rehabilitation period, the risk of stroke and heart attack increases.