Snoring is more than just a nuisance; it can signal serious health risks. Dr Ruchika Grover, an ENT surgeon and snoring specialist at Medicaid Hospital, Amritsar, explains the causes, consequences and management of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Primary Snoring vs. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Snoring affects both sexes but is more common in males. Individuals who snore but are lean, thin and do not experience choking episodes during sleep are classified as primary snorers. While primary snoring usually has no major health implications, it can disturb a bed partner and cause interpersonal stress.
A more serious condition is OSA, characterized by repeated pauses in breathing lasting more than 10 seconds during sleep. This occurs when neck, palate and tongue muscles relax, narrowing or collapsing the airway. Factors like neck thickness, obesity, deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, dental crowding, high-arched palate or enlarged tongue and palate influence airway size. Men are more prone to OSA due to thicker necks.
Treatment Options for Primary Snoring
Primary snoring is now treatable. One effective option is coblation channelling, a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment using radiofrequency energy to tighten the uvula and soft palate. Symptoms improve gradually over weeks, and patients may need two to three sessions for optimal results.
Health Risks of Sleep Apnoea
OSA prevents continuous, deep sleep, causing frequent micro-awakenings. Patients wake up groggy, suffer morning headaches and experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Repeated breathing interruptions reduce oxygen supply to the brain and heart, increasing risks of depression, hypertension, heart disease and stroke. It also raises the likelihood of road accidents as some patients may fall asleep while driving.
Management and Lifestyle Changes
Treatment begins with identifying underlying causes, often located in the nose, palate, tongue or epiglottis. The gold standard is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which delivers positive pressure to keep the airway open. Allergy treatment, weight loss, side sleeping, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and maintaining healthy sleep habits are also crucial, according to Dr Grover.
