subject: Stop Snoring Surgery: Is It Really An Option? [print this page] Snoring is considered by most to be quite normal. However, never be misled to believe that snoring is a normal part of the aging process because this is a myth which should be dispelled. Effects of snoring range from simple disturbance of reducing the quality of sleep of both the snorer and his or her partner to the most fatal such as heart problems.
Because snoring can serve as a disorder in itself as well as a sign to other more serious diseases, there are many treatment options available. Behavioral modification such as lifestyle change is quite commonly recommended either as a solo cure or as an adjunct to other treatments. There are also alternative techniques to stop snoring such as use of herbal medications and acupuncture.
Pharmacological treatments have also been prescribed one way or another. However, the most controversial treatment for snoring is surgery. This involves determination of the cause of obstruction and modifying or removing structures causing the blockage such as that of the nasal passages, tongue, palate, uvula, and others. It ranges in invasiveness from the least invasive such as the use of radio-frequency energy to the most invasive ectomy procedures which involve cutting and removal of structures.
Stop snoring surgery as a solo treatment is not recommended. It should only be done as a last resort if snoring is a symptom of a fatal underlying disease or if no remedy seems to work anymore in stopping the progression of the disease such as in a severely obstructed airway. This is because surgery can cause severe scarring of the airway which might worsen the airway obstruction. Aside from this, it is costly and painful.
