Uvula Function

Uvula is defined as the small piece of soft tissue that is seen hanging down from the soft palate over the back of the tongue. Its shape is somewhat similar to that of the grape. The muscle present in uvula is called musculus uvuae. This muscle helps the uvula to tighten up and change shape. In this way, musculus helps the uvula in filling of the space at the back of the throat. You must have heard a vibrato, wavy up-and-down sound while swallowing. This sound is produced by uvula. Some other important uvula functions are as follows.

Uvula Functions

• The main uvula function is to prevent food going through the breathing passage while you swallow.
• The uvula function also involves, articulation of your voice to form sounds of speech.
• The uvula functions along with the back of the throat, palate, and air coming up from the lungs to produce a gruffy and other sounds.

Uvula Problems

A change in the shape, size or infection can disturb the uvula function altogether. The most important uvula problems are briefly described here.

• VPI: The condition of nasal or hyper nasal speech is known as VPI or velopharyngeal insufficiency. It is caused by the improper closing of the uvula against the back of the throat. This allows a lot of extra air coming down the nose, making the speaker unable to utter certain consonants correctly.
• Nasal Regurgitation: When you swallow food, the soft palate and uvula close the nasopharynx. This prevents the food from entering the nasal cavity. Failure of this process leads to nasal disgorgement. People suffering from VPI, neuromuscular disorders and myositides are often found to be suffering this particular uvula problem.
• Uvula Infection: The uvula may get infected with microbes such as virus or bacteria. The condition of infected uvula is called uvulitis. Uvula infection is marked by swelling of the mucus membrane around the uvula 3-5 times its normal size. The swollen uvula causes a sensation of choking or gagging on touching the throat or tongue.
• Heavy Breathing During Sleep: Elongated uvula can cause vibrations, which in turn leads to snoring or heavy breathing during sleep. In some cases, it may lead to a more serious problem called sleep apnea. Such uvula problems can be treated by either complete or a partial uvula removal. The surgical procedure of uvula removal is medically termed as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP. However, UPPP is only 40-60% effective and there is always the chance of sleep apnea reversal.
• Gag Reflex: This is an uvula problem cum benefit. The problem is that massaging the uvula can give you a gag reflex, i.e. you will expel out the undigested food from your stomach. The benefit accompanied with this is that massaging the uvula, many a times, replaces emetic drugs in situations where emesis is required. People, undergoing uvula piercing may have to suffer from this uvula problem of gag reflex.

Among all the above mentioned uvula problems, uvula swelling due to uvulitis is the most common. Dehydration is believed to be one of the major swollen uvula causes. The uvula is forced to soak in saliva and swell when the body gets little liquid. Excessive swelling or inhalation of pollutant may make the uvula itchy in the process. The natural reaction to pollutants involves swollen uvula. Another common uvula swelling cause is microbial infection. There are a few home remedies for swollen uvula.

Home Remedies for Swollen Uvula

• Drink plenty of water. It will help remove the uvula problem of swelling due to dehydration, and will make it come back to the normal uvula functions.
• Gargling with lukewarm water mixed with little salt will help you a lot, in restoring back the uvula function.

Uvula problems are often mistook as the problems of tonsils. Patients get treatment for the tonsils instead of uvula. Eventually, this wrong approach of treatment leads to many other medical problems as uvula functions are very important for the human body. Therefore, in case you notice any of the above described problems in yourself, be sure that you get proper diagnosis and treatment for uvula problem.