WHAT ARE SNORING AND SLEEP APNOEA?
These terms describe different types of breathing disorders that occur during sleep.
Snoring describes noise caused by vibration of the tissues in the throat. It is usually the first sign that the airway may be partially obstructed. During sleep, muscles and tongue are relaxed and contribute to narrowing of airways. In some people this can restrict breathing and stop it completely for a brief moment. This interruption in breathing during sleep is called Sleep Apnoea. When this happens the brain will send a message that will cause a brief awakening, reopening of airways and then breathing restarts.
WHAT CAUSES SNORING AND SLEEP APNOEA?
Anything causing airway (throat) narrowing will increase the risk of snoring and sleep apnoea.
You are more likely to have sleep apnoea if you are obese as excessive fat tissue in the throat area will contribute to airway narrowing.
Common night symptoms associated with snoring and sleep apnoea are restless sleep, awakening with gasping or a choking feeling. During each apnoea episode heart rate and blood pressure will rise, eventually leading to increased blood pressure and associated risks of heart attack or stroke.
Common day symptoms associated with snoring and sleep apnoea include waking up with morning headache and dry mouth, excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration, poor memory, lack of energy and endurance, mood changes, weight gain or difficulty in losing weight.
WHAT ARE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OPTIONS?
Where appropriate lifestyle changes such as weight loss, reducing alcohol intake and cigarette smoking can all help prevent sleep apnoea and snoring.
Stop snoring mouth guards, snoring chin straps, antisnore pillows and snoring masks (CPAP) are all used attempts to improve symptoms of snoring and sleep apnoea.
Common issues associated with some of the traditional treatments are excessive salivation (drooling) with mouth pieces and altered bite, pain and dental problems.
Surgery is used in some cases to increase the size of the airways at the throat or nasal passages. Risks associated with the surgery and a low success rate in the long term makes surgery a less popular option .
WHAT IS NIGHTLASE SNORING AND SLEEP APNOEA LASER TREATMENT?
This is non-invasive medical laser treatment using superficial ErYag laser light.
During NightLase® treatment the laser light gently heats the tissues around the throat. This photo-thermal energy results in the formation of new collagen in mucosal tissues of soft palate, uvula and the throat opening. This causes a rise of the soft palate and improvement in the airway.
NightLase® medical laser procedure has high success rate in improving sleep patterns and quality of sleep. Tightening of tissues in the throat area leads to reduction of the snoring sounds and lessening of the symptoms of sleep apnoea.
In order to achieve optimal results a course of three separate 45 minute treatments over six weeks is recommended. Yearly booster treatments are advised to maintain the results.
Procedures involving medical laser will be performed on the following visits. Each procedure will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes.
You can leave immediately after the procedure and continue your daily routine.