Some
people snore only in certain situations, for example, when they have nasal
congestion and cannot breathe through their mouth (people who breathe
through their mouth are more prone to snore). Likewise, people who have
deviated nasal septums or blocked nasal passages from other causes are
more likely to snore. Sleeping flat on the back or drinking alcoholic
beverages close to bedtime also induces snoring. (Such situations may
induce apneas as well.) A thorough evaluation and sleep study can determine
whether the snoring is associated with apneas and, if so, the severity
of the sleep apnea.
One
common surgery for snoring is the laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty
or LAUP, a modification of the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP procedure.
It is also occasionally performed for sleep apnea. In the LAUP, the surgeon
uses a laser to cut away the uvula, the tissue that hangs from the middle
of the back of the roof of the mouth (from the Latin word "uva"
meaning "grapes"). More than one session may be needed. Other Resources for snoring: