Wassmuth, MD Dr. Twitter Facebook. What is Balloon Sinuplasty? What is Sleep Apnea? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.
Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.
These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies.
But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. When you sleep, your uvula vibrates. If you have an especially large or long uvula, it can vibrate enough to make you snore.
In other cases, it can flap over your airway and block the airflow into your lungs, causing OSA. Removing the uvula can help prevent snoring. It may help symptoms of OSA. Your doctor might recommend an uvulectomy if you have a large uvula that interferes with your sleep or breathing. More often , the uvula is partially removed as part of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty UPPP. This is the main surgery used to shrink the palate and clear the blockage in OSA.
UPPP removes excess tissue from the soft palate and pharynx. Your doctor may also remove the tonsils, adenoids , and all or part of the uvula during this procedure.
In some African and Middle Eastern countries, uvulectomy is performed much more often as a ritual in babies. It can also cause serious risks , like bleeding and infections.
They might ask you to stop taking certain things a week or so before your surgery. UPPP, on the other hand, is done in a hospital. To do an uvulectomy, your doctor will use radiofrequency energy or an electric current to remove your uvula. The whole procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The length of the procedure depends on how much tissue needs to be removed. Because the uvula's shape allows it to swing around a lot, this means all that extra saliva can be spread around the throat more easily when you're chatting or eating.
Which gives you a bit of hint as to why we're we're basically the only animals that have them - they facilitate complex speech and allow us to make unique noises such as rolling your "r"s. If you're not convinced by how awesome your uvula is now, we should also mention that it wards off infection and disease by blocking pathogens off from your throat.
But alas, our uvulas aren't perfect, and can sometimes succumb to infections themselves, or cause life-threatening sleep apnea. Here are a few of the things scientists have hypothesized about the uvula over time: that it helped to guide the flow of food and water down the throat that it induces the gag reflex that it causes chronic coughing that it causes health problems, like sudden infant death syndrome SIDS and sleep apnea, as well as snoring Although these several theories haven't totally panned out over the years, scientists continue to research the uvula , many out of a sense of pure curiosity.
Wonder What's Next? Try It Out We hope you enjoyed learning more about your uvula! What kind of uvula do you have? Have you ever taken a close look at your uvula? Of course, your uvula isn't the easiest thing in the world to see, so ask a friend or family member to help you out. Find a well-lit area and bring along some mirrors and maybe even a camera. If you can't get the right angle to see your uvula, try taking a picture that you can look at with your mouth closed.
You can also take turns examining other people's uvulas. What do you think? Are uvulas cool or what? What do YOU think your uvula does?
By now, you've read all about what scientists think, but even scientists admit they don't fully understand the uvula. That's where you come in.
The world of medicine needs your help in coming up with new uvular theories to test. Be creative and try to come up with a list of at least five things you think your uvula might be useful for. Your ideas can be serious or simply fun and creative. Does your uvula secretly control your sixth sense that lets you know when a ghost is nearby? Or is it simply there so your teeth have something to make fun of?
Have fun coming up with some new theories about your uvula! Scientists believe the uvula may be one of those things that sets humans apart from other mammals. If an alien landed on Earth and asked you to explain how humans are different than other mammals, what would you say? Would you mention your uvula? Or would you point to other differences?
Make a list of at least 10 things you'd tell the alien that makes you different from other mammals in the world. Did you get it? Test your knowledge. Wonder Words throat speech gag skin human water uvula snoring reflex sudden infant chronic saliva syndrome curiosity accessory lubrication uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Take the Wonder Word Challenge. Join the Discussion. Wonderpolis ,u guys are doing a great job Thanks for that info.
Apr 20, Aw thank you! Andrea Apr 18, When I had my tonsils removed at 8 the doctor decided he would remove my Uvula. I am the only person I know who does not have a uvula. Anywho, I strongly believe the Uvula aids in swallowing and blocks food from traveling up through your nasal passages when you do swallow.
I do not feel it prevents snoring because I have always snored Apr 19, Mar 14, Karen Jan 15, I'm in my 40's and I'm still the only person I know who has two uvula. My mother named it my double clacker when telling friends about it. Strange but true. Jan 17, I don't know quite what it is for but if I don't get over this bad cough, I think I am going to cough it out. I can't hardly swallow. Has anyone ever done that? I know you think I am joking. It is swollen and raw from all the coughing, feels like it is going to rip out.
Jan 2, Schmepulock Dec 19, Today my friend burned her uvula drinking hot chocolate Dec 19, Merse Dec 7, My daughter had it removed in order for her to speak.. When it healed the dr. With that helped within 6months we could understand her.. Dec 8, Wow, thank you for sharing your experience, Merse! That's very interesting. Karter Dec 5, Okay I have wondered what it does but i'm a little grossed out learning about the uvula.
Dec 6, It's great that you checked out this Wonder, Karter, even if it grossed you out a bit! Polish Lao Sep 30, Oct 2, That's an interesting use, Polish!
Thanks for joining the discussion. Colin Sep 30, How ever it is fun wasting peoples time with comments that have no significant importance. I think is weird how people are posting all these weird comments about there uvula. I'm just trying to finish my biology assignment. As one who has no uvula, I can tell you my thoughts.
I think it is a "trigger" to the epiglottis to "beware Saliva, liquids, crumbs, etc. Denise Nov 27, Nov 28,
0コメント