Snoring and Sleep apnea
- Snoring or upper respiratory noise while sleeping, is one of the most common afflictions adult population.
- As many as one-half of males and one-quarter females may snore to varying degrees.
- However, Snoring is only a medical problem if it is :
1. part of a sleep apnea syndrome.
2. socially disruptive, that is, interferes with the quality of life of the patients, or his or her bed partner, roommates, housemate or neighbors.
- Obstructive sleep apnea is a disease state characterized by pathologic obstruction of upper airway in the deeper state of sleep.
- Sometimes people who snore also suffer from sleep apnea.

Investigation
- Investigation of snoring and sleep apnea would be performed in a hospital sleep laboratory.
-This sleep test is necessary for patient to diagnostic only snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
-This is important to rule out OSA from snoring and this test can determine the degree of severity of OSA

Treatment of Snoring and Sleep apnea
- Once diagnosed, there are several types of treatment.
- For snoring people should be losing weight and avoiding sleep medication and alcohol.
- Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea can be performed
 1. Non-surgical technique => Radiofrequency tissue volume reduction (office procedure)
 2. Surgical technique by lasers.

Radiofrequency for treatment of snoring
- Radio frequency treatment of snoring is a new, completely painless way to control snoring.
- There are no cuts, stitch or bleeding, and minimal post-treatment discomfort.
- This is no time lost form daily activities, including work.
- This procedure is office-procedure.
- The patient can go home after performed RFTVR.
- RETVR in this case the transmitter is planed on your soft palate and the energy that is release coagulated the deep tissue of the soft palate.
- Subsequent healing and scaring stiffen the soft palate so that it can no longer vibrate and cause snoring.
- Afterward, you can go home, eat and drink anything you like, and return to work on the same day.
- There is usually a small amount of swelling of the soft palate for 24-48 hours, but it will not interfere with you activities.
- This treatment is as successful as laser treatment for controlling snoring, but much less painful.
 - The total cost for a full course of treatment is $ 900 US

Surgery
- The most widely accepted treatment for adults with OSA is UPPP.
- In this procedure, the uvular is removed, the palate shortened, and the pharynx tighted.
- This eliminates the excessive tissues that tends to obstruct the airway.
- If there is no obesity or if excessive weight is lost, UPPP has a very high rate of success.
- The vast majority of persons experience an improvement in their sleep apnea. And a great number are eared.
- The total cost for surgery is 1000 US
 

Snoring can be defined as an inspiratory (breathing in) noise produced by vibration of the softer parts of the airway and surrounding tissues; however, snoring can be caused by many different ways. Any narrowing of the airway can have an effect on whether you do or do not snore.

Frequent abnormalities associated with snoring:

* Deviated nasal septum

* Congenital narrowing of the nasal or oropharyngeal cavity

* Nasal polyps

* Nasal congestion

* Tonsillar Hypertrophy (enlarged tonsills)

* Macroglossia (enlarged tongue)

* Malposition of the hyoid bone ( bone beneath the tongue)

* Obesity


Functional Factors:

* Supine sleeping (back lying position).

* Sleep deprivation.

* Decreased muscle tone of the surrounding airway muscles.

* Sex...snoring as well as sleep apnea is more prevalent in men than in women.

* Hormonal diseases...including hypothyroidism.

* Heredity

* Drugs...including:

* Sleep aids

* Alcohol

*Smoking

What if my child snores?

Treating Snoring

If snoring persists, there are several operations that can be done to reduce or eliminated snoring. These operation involve removing a portion of the soft palate (the soft part of the roof of the mouth). One of these procedures is called a LAUP ("lay-up", for Laser Assisted Uvulopalato- pharyngoplasty) and can be done in the office with a local anesthetic. It is usually done as a series of separate treatments separated by roughly 6 weeks. Treatment is continued until the snoring has stopped or is sufficiently reduced. The other type of surgical treatment is more involved and must be done in the operating room under a general anesthetic. As with obstructive sleep apnea, if you have concerns about snoring you should contact your doctor for a complete evaluation.