Goals of treatment for snoring

The problem of snoring usually is a problem for the bed partner or roommate. Therefore, successful treatment should include the goal of achieving a successful night's sleep for the other person. This makes treatment of snoring a difficult challenge. For example, someone may have a successful treatment if their snoring decreases from a jackhammer level to that of a passing truck. If their bed partner is happy, then the snoring problem is “cured.” However, another person whose snoring decreases from a mild sound to the level of heavy breathing may still have an unhappy bed partner. It is wise to look at the “success” reports for various treatments with a critical eye. If the number of nights that a bed partner has to leave the room decreases from seven nights per week to one night per week, is that success? Some would say that it is. However, the bed partner (or snorer) still has to leave the room one night per week. Be sure to know what your expectations for a “cure” are before considering any treatments.

Non-surgical treatments for snoring

The main categories of non-surgical treatment of snoring are:

• behavioral changes,
• dental devices,
• nasal devices, and
• other products.

Behavioral changes

Behavioral changes are the easiest to identify, but some of the hardest to accomplish. For example, if a person gains ten pounds, his snoring may become a problem. It is easy to tell a person to lose the ten pounds, but it is difficult to accomplish. Behavioral changes include weight loss, changing sleeping positions, avoiding alcohol, and changing medications. Losing weight usually will improve snoring. Snoring usually is worse when lying flat on your back, as discussed previously. To help this problem, a pocket can be sewn into the back of the snorer's pajama tops. A tennis or golf ball in the pocket will “encourage” the snorer to roll over to sleep on his/her side. Alcohol or sedative medications make snoring worse, and therefore should be avoided.

Dental devices

As previously discussed, snoring is exacerbated by normal airflow through a narrowed area in the throat. Part of the narrowing is caused by the tongue and palate falling back during sleep. Some dental devices have been developed that hold the jaw forward. Since the tongue is attached in the front to the jaw, the tongue also is held forward when these devices are used. Some devices are designed to hold the palate up and forward. All dental devices are best made by a dentist to ensure a correct fit without causing problems. These devices improve snoring in 70 to 90% of cases. There are some drawbacks to dental devices, however. They must be worn every night in order to work, they can cause or exacerbate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, and they can be moderately expensive.

Nasal devices and medications

For people with narrow nasal passages, snoring can be alleviated with nasal devices or medications. Breath-rite strips open the anterior nasal valve (front part of the nose). If this is the main or only area of narrowing, snoring may improve with use of these strips, but this is frequently not the case. I have encountered other nasal devices that hold open the front nasal passageway, but they are generally not ideal or completely successful. If nasal mucosal swelling from allergies or irritation is causing the problem, nasal sprays may help. Nasal saline irrigation spray is a way to clean and moisturize the nasal lining since environmental irritants that stay in the nose (dust, pollen, and smoke) continue to irritate as long as they are present. The nasal lining also swells when it is cold and dry. Nasal saline helps to wash away irritants and moisturizes the mucosa without side effects. Other nasal sprays that may be used to improve nasal breathing include nasal steroid sprays. They are very helpful for swelling due to minor allergies or irritation. Steroid sprays decrease inflammation in the nasal passages. Very little of the steroid is absorbed into the body from the nose so there are few side effects with these sprays. Medicated sprays also can be used to improve snoring that results from nasal congestion.

Surgical treatments for snoring

Surgery to treat snoring is designed to reduce obstruction or narrowing in the anatomic area that is causing the snoring. Frequently, there is more than one involved area, so surgery on only one of the narrow areas may decrease snoring but not eliminate it entirely. Surgical treatment of snoring is generally focused on the nasal passages, palate and uvula, and tongue. Most of the surgical procedures are performed in a doctor's office. Most insurance companies do not cover procedures or medications to treat snoring, so make sure to check with your insurance provider and ask the cost of a procedure before you schedule it.

Nasal surgery for snoring

Nasal surgery to treat snoring is generally focused on improving a narrow nasal passage. In the doctor's office, radio-frequency energy can be used to shrink the turbinates by creating scar tissue in them, resulting in a more open nasal passage. The procedure takes about 15 minutes. Most of that time is spent numbing the nasal tissue with topical and injectable medications. The procedure is performed with a wand that is placed into the tissues. Radio-frequency energy then is released into the tissues for about ten seconds. Several applications are done on each side of the nose for maximal effect. The procedure is successful when scar tissue forms. Therefore, it takes about three months to see the full effect of the procedure. As the scar tissue softens over time, however, the swelling and narrowing may recur. The procedure then can be repeated as needed in the office.

Several other anatomic problems can cause or worsen snoring. The nasal septum is the “wall” in the center of the nose that separates the right and left nasal passages. After trauma (including during birth), the septum can be deviated to one side or may curve to both sides (one side by the front of the septum and the other by the back of the septum). The septum deviation can be corrected by removing the crooked cartilage. This surgery usually is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. After surgery, if the nasal obstruction is improved, the snoring often improves.

Nasal polyps are mucosal “growths” in the nose that are usually caused by allergies. As they continue to enlarge over time, they can cause nasal obstruction. If the polyps are large enough, they will require surgery to remove them. This surgery was previously performed in the doctor's office. However, it is currently more usual to perform to perform the surgery in the operating room under general anesthesia. Removing the polyps reduces nasal obstruction, which may also improve snoring.

Oral surgery for snoring

Snoring can also be caused by a long, floppy palate and uvula. There are several procedures that involve the uvula and palate. Some procedures remove the tissue whereas others try to stiffen the tissues.

Uvulectomy is the removal of the uvula. This can easily be performed under local anesthesia in the doctor's office. A person usually does not miss having the uvula. However, there is a period of one to two weeks of discomfort in the throat after the procedure. Some people require strong pain medications for several days, whereas others need only acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an over-the-counter equivalent. Most people describe the pain as similar to a bad viral sore throat that is worst when swallowing. The main risks of uvulectomy are pain, bleeding, and altered speech (if you speak a language with guttural fricatives like Hebrew or Farsi).

Laser Assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) involves trimming the palate with a laser. It can be performed in the doctor's office under local anesthesia. Small cuts are made in the palate on each side of the uvula with a laser. Several procedures are usually needed for a maximal effect. The scarring caused by the procedure stiffens the palate, decreasing the ability of the palate to vibrate and pulls the palate sideways to tighten it. This procedure results in mild to moderate pain for one to two weeks that is generally controlled with oral pain medications.

Snoring due to a long, floppy palate can be treated with office procedures that stiffen the palate. Like a sail on a sail boat, the air moving around the palate can cause vibrations of the tissue. For a sailboat sail, battens are placed to stiffen the sail and decrease vibration. Similarly, a stiffer palate vibrates less. The palate can be stiffened by creating scar tissue (as discussed previously) or with implants.

Radio-frequency ablation of the palate can be performed under local anesthesia in the doctor's office. Usually, three tunnels in the tissue are made with a radiofrequency wand. The radiofrequency energy is applied for approximately ten seconds with the wand in the palate muscle tissue. The tissue heals as scar tissue, and the palate becomes stiffer and vibrates less. Generally, scar tissue in the palate continues to form for up to three months. Up to 77% of people report reduced snoring after this procedure, however, as the tissue continues to heal over time, the palate may soften and re-obstruct. One study demonstrated a 29% relapse in snoring after one year.

Palate implants are now being used to treat snoring. They are made from Dacron, which is a non-reactive material that has been used for many years for heart valve surgery and hernia repair. Dacron also encourages the normal tissue to grow into it. Small Dacron implants are placed into the palate under local anesthesia. The implants stiffen the palate like scar tissue after radiofrequency treatments. The implants stay in the tissue, so recurrence of snoring should be reduced. There is a small increased risk of infection after insertion of foreign material in the palate tissue. If this occurs, the implant should be removed and replaced with another implant. Although this sounds like a negative consequence, infection actually leads to scarring, which helps decrease the vibrations of the palate. The implant procedure results in less tissue inflammation and therefore the procedure does not hurt as much or for as long as following radio-frequency treatments.

Success of Surgery

Surgeries are generally successful in reducing snoring. The success of a procedure depends on the problem area causing the snoring. For example, someone with nasal congestion will not have much improvement with a palate procedure and vice versa. The other factor that makes success hard to measure is the definition of success. As discussed earlier, the goal of surgery is a successful night's sleep for those around the snorer.

Palate implant surgery has been reported to decrease snoring. On a loudness scale of 1-100, the average decrease is from 79 to 48 at three months. Is a snoring level of 48 a success? For some people it may be, but for others it may not. Similarly, palate implant surgery was recommended by 89% of snorers, but only 69% of their partners. Palatal implant surgery, like other surgeries, is very successful if the patients are carefully selected. Only people with snoring due to palate problems will improve with palate surgery, and only the snorer's partner will determine if the improvement in snoring is a “success.”

Snoring At a Glance

• Snoring is caused by vibrating tissues within the airways of the nose and throat.
• The vibrations that cause snoring are caused by turbulent airflow through narrowed airways.
• Snoring is affected by the stage of sleep, sleeping position, and the use of medications and alcohol.
• Snoring is a problem for family members and sleeping partners of the snorer.
• Snoring also may be a sign of a medical problem.
• Treatments for snoring are nonsurgical and surgical.