Forty-five percent of normal adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more frequent in males and overweight persons, and it usually grows worse with age.

What causes snoring?

Snoring occurs when floppy tissue in the airway relaxes during sleep and vibrates. Most snoring is caused by an enlarged soft palate and uvula at the back of the mouth, although the tongue, tonsils, adenoids and congested nasal passages can also contribute to the sound.

Is snoring serious?

Snoring alone is a social problem and generally does not cause other medical problems. It can be serious when it makes the snorer an object of ridicule and causes others sleepless nights and resentfulness. Snoring can also disturb sleep patterns and deprive the snorer of appropriate rest. When snoring is severe, it can be associated with long-term health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea.

How can heavy snoring be treated?

Non-surgical approaches include weight loss and other lifestyle modifications or the use of an oral appliance to reposition the jaw during sleep.

A variety of surgical treatments are also available to reduce the excess tissue. A revolutionary new treatment, Somnoplasty, gently reduces and stiffens the tissues in the soft palate and uvula and does so without the pain associated with conventional and laser-assisted surgeries.

A chronically snoring child should be examined for problems with his or her tonsils and adenoids. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy may be required to return the child to full health.

What is Somnoplasty?

Somnoplasty uses low-power, low-temperature radiofrequency energy to treat a well-defined area in the uvula or soft palate . Over a period of four to six weeks the treated tissue is naturally removed by the body, reducing the volume and stiffening the area responsible for the snoring . The procedure takes place in the physician’s office under local anesthesia and typically takes less than thirty minutes. Depending on the level of snoring, the Somnoplasty procedure may need to be repeated. The PENTA physicians perform this procedure in the Winston-Salem office. Please call the office for more information or visit www.somnoplasty.com.