HEALTHWATCH
Stop snoring
SNORING is no longer a laughing matter. In addition to posing a strain on relationships, it can also indicate a possibly dangerous and life-threatening disease. Snoring means obstructive breathing and its most exaggerated form in obstructive sleep apnea.
The sound of snoring originates in the collapsible part of the air passage where there is no rigid support. It involves the back of the nose, palate, tonsils and the tongue. Some factors that cause snoring are obesity, sedation and space occupying masses like enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Frightening
Heavy snorers are more likely to be hypertensive and to develop angina pectoris than non-snorers. The most advanced stage of snoring is obstructive sleep apnea, which causes cardiac, pulmonary and behavioural problems.
Apnea has been described as snoring and choking, a frightening struggle to breathe while asleep. Apnea interrupts loud snoring with episodes of silence during which time, the snorer struggles with unsuccessful respiratory effort. After some seconds, a loud snort (the so-called "resuscitative snort") occurs as the patient awakes, at least partially, forces open the airways and resumes breathing.
Kicking or flailing of arms often accompanies this. Various contorted positions are often assumed to reopen airways and the half-awake victims may rise or even fall out of bed.
All this means that these patients do not enjoy sufficient deep-stage sleep to feel refreshed. This chronic sleep deprivation makes them sleepy during the day. Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most consistent symptom of obstructive sleep apnea and has been observed in 80 per cent of the patients.
Heavy snorers should have a thorough examination of the mouth, nose, throat and larynx by an ENT surgeon. Studies in a sleep laboratory (polysomnograms) are essential in adults who have symptoms of sleep apnea.
Every child with chronic snoring should be examined thoroughly. If no other specific causes are discovered, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy will bring prompt and dramatic relief and probably make a difference to the child's health and well being.
Treatment
Surgical treatment is usually reserved as the last option. But rapid advances in this field has led to more frequent use with excellent results.
Most common is the uvulopalatoplasty, which is basically the removal of the excess tissue behind the nose and throat. The use of the carbon dioxide laser enables an almost bloodless operation under local anaesthesia, as an outpatient procedure.
Snoring is not funny to those whose lives are disrupted by it. But with the expanding medical understanding, there is some relief for the sufferers.
* * *
Self-help tips
Be active and exercise daily
Avoid alcohol
Avoid tranquillisers
Sleep sideways rather than on your back
Tilt the bed with the head upwards
Avoid use of a thick pillow
* * *
Symptoms
Loud snoring
Abnormal movements during sleep
Increased daytime sleep
Obesity (frequent but not necessary)
Personality changes (irritable, depressed)
Hypertension (frequent)
Heart failure (in advanced cases)
Dr. K.K. RAMALINGAM and Dr. RAVI RAMALINGAM
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
