Snoring is vibration of respiratory structure produces the sound when the airway is obstructed during sleeping. It is often associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Research suggested that snoring is a factor of sleep deprivation.
Snoring can be a nuisance to your partner. It commonly affects men and those who are overweight, said Dr. Michelle Lai from Premiere Clinic, Kuala Lumpur.
“Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol, or sleeping on your side, can help stop snoring,” she added.
Who will have snoring problems?
One of the major risk of snoring is obesity particular having a lot of fatty tissues surrounding the throat. A part of obesity, snoring can attribute as following:
- Throat weakness, causing the throat to close during sleep.
- Mispositioned jaw, often caused by tension in the muscles.
- Obstruction in the nasal passageway due to chronic congestion
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Relaxants such as alcohol or other drugs relaxing throat muscles.
- Sleeping on one’s back, which may result in the tongue dropping to the back of the mouth?
What is OSA?
Loud and chronic snoring is a one of the symptoms in OSA. In serious condition, it may partially or completely block the airway passage, preventing breathing.
In chronic OSA, it’s a lifelong medical condition which can affect the sleep, healthy and quality of life. Often associated with symptoms like daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of focus, morning headache, sore throat, Gasping or choking at night and restless sleep
It has been link to hypertension, diabetic mellitus, heart disease and stroke or driving related accident. If you have these symptoms, further evaluation of OSA needs to be ruled out.
How to cure snoring?
By using the mallampati scoring, it helps to determine the severity of obstructive airway .The higher scoring (Class III, class IV, mostly likely to develop snoring and OSA).
The goal of NightLase is to reduce the Mallampati scoring, eliminating snoring and it would consider as a successful treatment.
What is NightLase?
It is a Non-invasive treatment using the latest technology of laser for treatment of snoring by inducing tightening effect by collagen remodeling over oral mucosa tissues. Using Er:YAG laser allowing a safe penetration of heat over soft palate and uvula, to tighten and shrink the surrounding airway structures, thereby reducing the snoring. The muscle of airway becoming firmer and less likely to prolapsed.
How is it to be done and the effective of this treatment?
A full course of NightLase consists of three separate treatment sessions over a six weeks period. The final results of the treatment have been shown to last up to a year, and a single therapy can be repeated when necessary in 12-18 months. Most patient experience a significant improvement up to 80% in intensity, frequency and duration of the snoring
Is the treatment painful and any side effects?
It is a very simple and fast procedure, and there is no cutting issues and no anesthesia, said D.Michelle. You will feel a warm sensation when laser zapping on the oral mucosa. You may experience a mild sore throat or scratchy throat 24-48 hours after the treatment. You will encourage drinking plenty of water to reduce the chances of discomfort.
Malaysia World News (MWN)
