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Almost 40 percent of Americans snore, close to 120 million people. About 80 percent of married couples, approximately 40 million, occasionally sleep apart because of snoring; 20 percent regularly. It's a problem that results in car crashes, loss of productivity at work, loss of intimacy among couples, narcolepsy misdiagnosis and overall increased health care costs. Kayem and Putnam are tackling this problem head on.A cornerstone of their approach is the Pillar Procedure, a minimally invasive procedure that is done in a short office visit with minimal or no discomfort and no interruption to diet or activity. The procedure has revolutionized the treatment of snoring, long dependent on dubious over the counter remedies, clumsy headgear and painful surgeries. "Most people subscribe to the 'I'll just deal with it' line of thinking when it comes to snoring," said Dr. Kayem, director of the Center. "But untreated snoring may lead to serious health problems and puts a tremendous strain on relationships. It can point to more serious problems like sleep apnea which affects nearly 18 million people in the United States, less than 50 percent of which are diagnosed." Since snoring is often associated with sleep apnea, which is caused by an obstructed airway resulting in breathing lapses of 10-40 seconds, help doesn't come soon enough. It is not uncommon to have up to 15 episodes an hour and in extreme cases, as many as 100 or more. In fact, almost 40,000 people die each year from complications due to sleep apnea. Kayem believes those numbers will decrease once people learn there are treatments that don't require major surgery, downtime or prescription pain medication. "Many people either don't realize there is a less invasive answer or are afraid of traditional treatments which can be traumatizing or intolerable. That's what's revolutionary about the Pillar Procedure," Kayem said. "The procedure is far less invasive compared to traditional surgical techniques but has comparable results." Kayem also notes that, "The procedure opens up a new option for some sleep apnea patients who cannot tolerate CPAP," one of the more traditional treatments for sleep apnea where a patient sleeps with a pressurized air mask at night to open up the airway by force. The procedure involves implanting three to five small polyester inserts in the palate. The palate stiffens as a result, preventing collapse and vibration during sleep. These inserts remain invisible after placement. While snoring is overwhelmingly attributed to the palate, Kayem and Putnam agree that if any treatment is to be successful, a complete exam by a experience sleep physician is vital to determine the source of snoring and obstruction which may also come from the nose, tongue, throat or a combination of all these areas. About the Snoring and Apnea Center of California The Snoring and Apnea Center of California is a medical practice dedicated to the education, evaluation and treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. As otolaryngology specialists and surgeons dedicated to sleep breathing disorders, the doctors take a minimally invasive approach to treatment. www.snoring911.com Top of Page 
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