30% of people snore and some sleep partners may even move to another room. People who snore may suffer from poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat, excessive bulkiness of throat tissue, long soft palate and/or uvula, or obstructed nasal airways. Simple snoring can usually be treated with brief office procedures. An examination by one our physicians at Capital Otolaryngology in Austin, Texas will reveal the source of the problem and the best treatment. For sleep and snoring help in Austin, Texas, call us today!
Sleep apnea is a more serious condition. Only about 10% of people with sleep apnea are diagnosed, because the most telling symptoms occur while you’re asleep. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is when snoring is interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing. Such episodes may last anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute and can cause a real strain on the patient's heart and lungs. Even mild sleep apnea causes high blood pressure.
The condition can worsen as you age and lead to congestive heart failure, heart attack, or stroke. Short term problems also include chronic fatigue, headache, poor daytime performance, reduced sexual performance, and accidents. That’s why prompt treatment is crucial. We combine state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and our own sleep study lab to help diagnose your problem. Our physicians at Capital Otolaryngology have extensive training and years of experience in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.
Some of the treatments we offer are:
CPAP/BiPAP — In some cases we can treat OSA with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Comfortable and affordable, the device helps you breathe easy throughout the night without apnea.
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Nasal surgery / septoplasty / sinus surgery — A deviated septum or chronic sinus infection can restrict airflow through the nasal cavities and disrupt breathing during sleep. Our skill and experience with nasal and sinus surgery means we can eliminate obstructions and enlarge the airways to significantly reduce or even eliminate snoring or apnea. Our advanced techniques do not require any nasal packing and result in quicker healing with less discomfort.
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Turbinate reduction — Enlarged turbinates (the structure that projects from the side wall of the nose into the nasal cavity) and nasal congestion can contribute to headaches and sleep disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Turbinate reduction is a minimally invasive procedure that can reduce the congestion using gentle surgical procedures without pain and without the uncomfortable packing usually involved with these procedures.
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UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty) — We use this advanced technique to remove soft tissue at the back of the throat and the uvula, increasing the size of your airway to prevent collapse during sleep.
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Snoreplasty — This procedure treats snoring caused by palate and uvula vibrations. It takes only 15 to 20 minutes and is performed in the office under local anesthesia. Most patients have a mild sore throat lasting a few days after this treatment.
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Pillar Implantations — This brief office procedure is performed under local anesthesia and is designed to result in a lasting reduction in snoring. Small soft porous tubes are placed in the soft palate to stiffen the palate as a whole.
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Tonsillectomy — Some patients have snoring or sleep apnea from enlarged tonsils. Removal of the tonsils alone or in combination with other treatments can resolve obstructive sleep apnea.
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Snoring and sleep apnea are treatable conditions. Ask us how Capital Otolaryngology in Austin, Texas can help you or a loved one today.