Only A Few Snoring Treaments Have Turned Really Effective

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 at 2:09 PM

Snoring is one of the most common and debilitating problems, affecting one out of ever four people. It can be a sign of sleep apnea, in which obstruction in the airway causes a person to temporarily stop breathing hundreds of times a night. Sleep Apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, weight gain, memory problems, and even car accidents due to drowsy driving.

There are many approaches to snoring cessation. The C-Pap mask forces extra oxygen into the lungs during sleep, and is often prescribed to those with severe sleep apnea.

Then there are surgical procedures, including the use of lasers or radio-frequency energy to remove soft palate tissue that contributes to the snoring sound. Doctors who advocate the Pillar Procedure say it is a far less invasive option.

When we sleep, the muscles in the back of the throat relax. If they relax too much, the soft tissues can block the airway, causing a vibration or snoring with each breath. The more the airway is blocked, the louder the snore will be.

There are only a few snoring treatments that have turned out to be really effective,” says Dr. David Volpi of the Manhattan Snoring and Sleep Center.

One of the latest he and other physicians around the country are using is called the Pillar procedure.

Dr. Volpi says it has an established track record. “The procedure has been done now in more than 40,000 patients with a great success rate,” he says.

Doctors inject local anesthesia. Then using a small gun-like device, they insert three tiny woven polyester implants in the back of the roof of the mouth. Over the coming days and weeks, the implants stiffen the soft tissue in the throat, hopefully bringing an end to the snoring.

Some who have undergone the procedure describe it as almost painless. Its like two little pinches and then done.Pillar implants are made by Medtronic and the company website says patients should not see or feel the medical-grade material implants. They are not supposed to interfere with swallowing or speech.

On a occasion- the tip of one of the tiny pillars can protrude from the soft palate, and must then be removed or replaced.

Doctors who specialize in the Pillar technique say patient selection is key. They say the best candidates are loud, habitual snorers who snore in all sleep positions. The implants may not be effective in cases of severe sleep apnea.