Rest Easy with Effective Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep disordered breathing is an umbrella diagnosis which includes individuals with snoring and sleep apnea.  Almost all individuals who have sleep apnea also have very loud snoring. Conversely, if one snores, it does not necessarily mean that there is apnea. One can have a suspicion that apnea may be an issue. Spouses and family members frequently are the first to suspect a sleep disorder. However, patients are almost never aware of their snoring or apnea. The only way to definitively diagnose sleep apnea is with a sleep study.

Sleep Apnea and Snoring Treatments

There are a number of options to address your sleep apnea and sleep issues.

Deciding on the best option involves an evaluation by one of our board-certified physicians. The cause and site of airway obstruction is determined by examining the upper aerodigestive tract, the entire upper airway, including the nasal cavity, throat and voice box regions. Based on a complete evaluation and examination, a treatment recommendation is made.

Treatment options may include the following:

• Weight loss.
• Positional sleep therapy.
• CPAP therapy: a device that delivers air through your mouth and/or nose to keep your airways open while you are asleep.
• Mandibular advancement device: an oral appliance that prevents the jaw from falling backward during sleep.
• Injection snoreplasty: a technique to stiffen the soft palate by injecting a sclerosing solution into the area.
• Palate pillar procedure: a technique to stiffen the soft palate with a synthetic wick placed into the soft palate under local anesthesia.
• Addressing other anatomical areas that might contribute to snoring, including nasal obstruction (deviated septum, turbinate enlargement or nasal polyps) and tongue base obstruction. For tongue base obstructive anatomy, we would consider a mandibular advancement device or the radiofrequency ablation procedure.

What Is Radio Frequency Ablation?

Radio Frequency Ablation is designed for sleep apnea patients who have not found success with the usual CPAP treatment. During the procedure, small amounts of radiofrequency heat energy are applied to the base of your tongue to prevent it from obstructing your airway.