Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring and Sleep Apnea can be caused by a variety of reasons including blockages in our nasal airways and oral airways. These blockages can be due to a deviated septum, or enlarged nasal turbinates, a redundant palate and uvula, and or an enlarged tongue, that is too large for the size of that person's mandible (jaw) and hence prolapses into the throat when our muscles relax during sleep.

When air is trying to pass through a blocked airway it vibrates the tissues and hence makes various degrees of noise ranging from a soft flutter to a lawn mower sound ! Some people have a nasal snore and others have on oral snore or a combination of both, depending on where their obstruction is. Furthermore, the lungs have to generate a larger negative pressure in order to bring air in through a blocked airway and this high negative pressure after several years can cause someone to develop pulmonary edema (water in the lungs) and or cardiac arhythmias (the heart to go out of rhythm) and even myocardial infarctions during their sleep (heart attacks).

If someone has a deviated septum that blocks their nasal airway, they may undergo a simple straightening of their septum under a light anaesthesia. Dr. Petropoulos does not pack the nose after surgery and therefore there is no discomfort associated with this procedure during the healing time. The turbinates in the nose which are sausage-like pieces of tissue on each side, may also be enlarged and can also block the nasal airway. These too can be painlessly shrunken to a size that will allow easy nasal breathing.

If the soft palate is too long, it hangs down into the back of the throat like a curtain and vibrates causing snoring and also apnea. This unnecessary portion of the palate can be gently trimmed to alleviate the problem. This procedure can be done concurrently with a non-invasive base of tongue reduction via somnoplasty, (see below).

Last but not least, if someone is overweight, the same way we put weight on our tummies and buttocks, we also put weight on around our throat which can also contribute to obstruction of our upper breathing tube (pharynx). We can help ! As part of her Wellness Program, Dr. Petropoulos offers a weight management lifestyle program that meets weekly in the evenings over twelve weeks. There have been many success stories. As you know, with the usual diets, our bodies end up burning muscle and fat to get their energy. This program differs from others since supplements are available that channel the body's energy burning mode to burn FAT ONLY, thus preserving muscle. This is a unique system that is customized for each person's needs.

Schedule a medical consultation with Dr. Petropoulos to fully assess your snoring and / or your wellness needs. Please make sure to obtain a referral from your primary care physician if necessary for whatever your medical needs are eg deviated septum, nasal obstruction, airway obstruction and or sleep apnea.

Dr. Petropoulos is board certified in two fields, one being Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. This, together with her experience of over a decade with snoring and sleep apnea treatments, makes her highly qualified to asses and treat your needs in this domain, both surgically and non-surgically.

You will be amazed at the quality of life one can achieve once the quality of sleep is improved. The daytime fatigue is alleviated and one has more energy to enjoy life.

Bring back the spring back in your step - call us to start your new life !

Non-invasive Base of Tongue Reduction via Somnoplasty

Click here for FAQ's about snoring and sleep apnea