What does uvula look like

People with uvulitis usually make a full recovery quickly with a combination of home remedies and medication. While recovering from uvulitis, it is important for people to stay away from any allergens as well as stopping smoking and drinking. Around 45 percent of adults snore at least occasionally, with 25 percent snoring constantly. This area is where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and the uvula.

When the structures strike each other and vibrate during breathing, the result is snoring. If the uvula is enlarged, snoring can become an even bigger problem. The uvula is believed to play a role in snoring or sleep apnea because in some people with these conditions, the uvula is swollen.

Essential oils are a popular home remedy for many ailments, but can they soothe a sore throat? In this article, we look at the evidence behind using…. Some infants are born with a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both, often leading to speech, hearing, and feeding problems. Cleft lip and palate might also…. Strep throat is caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium. Streptococcal bacteria are extremely contagious and can spread through airborne….

Most sore throats are treatable at home. This article looks at 15 home remedies that might soothe a sore throat, plus the science behind them. Sore throats are not usually serious, but soreness on just one side can indicate an underlying illness.

Read on to learn about causes and other…. What causes a swollen uvula? While your uvula assists you with many essential functions, it can also be an accomplice in snoring. Your soft palate muscles, tongue, and throat relax when you transition to deep sleep. When your throat muscles relax too much, they can block your airway, creating an audible vibration, or snoring. But snoring could be a sign of a more significant issue — obstructive sleep apnea OSA. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder where your breathing randomly stops and starts while sleeping.

Symptoms include:. You're at a higher risk if you're overweight, diabetic, or experience elevated blood pressure. If you feel you're experiencing OSA, see your doctor right away, as it could lead to heart disease if not treated. If you've got a perfectly healthy uvula, you may never notice it hanging down in the back of your soft palate. However, if it becomes inflamed or you're experiencing signs of sleep apnea, it's time to make an appointment with your doctor.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Shop Now. Our Mission. Contact Us. United States US English. If you have uvulitis, your uvula will appear red, puffy, and larger than normal.

Uvulitis may also be associated with:. If you have a swollen uvula along with a fever or abdominal pain, talk with your doctor right away. This can be an indication of an underlying medical issue that needs to be treated. There are many types of uvulitis causes. Triggers for inflammation include:. Certain environmental and lifestyle factors can lead to reactions that include a swollen uvula. These factors include:. Certain infections can lead to irritation of your uvula that can cause uvulitis.

Examples of viral infections that could lead to uvulitis include:. The most common bacterial infection is strep throat, which could cause the uvula to become irritated and lead to uvulitis. Strep throat is caused by an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. If you have infected tonsils , or tonsillitis , severe inflammation can cause them to push against your uvula.

This can cause your uvula to become irritated and swollen. Certain sexually transmitted diseases STDs could potentially contribute to uvulitis. People whose immune systems have been compromised from HIV and genital herpes are at greater risk of oral thrush , which may lead to a swollen uvula.

Trauma to your uvula can be caused by a medical condition or surgical procedure. Frequent vomiting or acid reflux from gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD can cause your throat and uvula to become irritated.

Your uvula can be damaged during an intubation, such as during surgery. Your uvula can also be injured during a tonsillectomy. This is a procedure to remove your tonsils, which are located on both sides of your uvula.

An uncommon condition called hereditary angioedema can cause swelling of the uvula and throat, as well as swelling of the face, hands, and feet. Generally, it will heal up without treatment—sucking on ice chips or using a local anaesthetic mouth spray can help soothe the area. Drinking alcohol and smoking are both irritating to the lining of the throat and uvula, and can cause redness, irritation, and swelling.

The best way to keep this from happening again is to stick within the daily intake recommendations for alcohol up to one drink per day for women and two for men , and to quit smoking—your doctor can hook you up with local programs that are available to help, says Dr.

In the meantime, supportive care can be helpful in soothing the area as it heals, says Dr. Mehdizadeh, such as salt water gargles and lozenges. Allergic reactions are a relatively common cause of throat swelling in general, but sometimes the uvula can be affected alone.

You may be able to ease your symptoms by taking antihistamines. The most common bacterial infection affecting the throat is strep throat , which can irritate the uvula and cause swelling. Tonsillitis usually affects both tonsils, but can result in uvula swelling because of the infection and inflammation. There are several viral infections that can affect the throat and uvula, many of which also cause cold symptoms runny nose , cough, laryngitis. Morrison recommends getting lots of rest, eating healthy foods, and drinking plenty of fluids.