Snoring is a specific sound manifestation that occurs during sleep, low-frequency noise that can reach an intensity of over 90 decibels. It is a sign of obstruction of the upper airways, from the nose to the trachea. Snoring lowers tone pharyngeal muscles, and narrowing the pharyngeal space. That speeds up and increases the pressure airflow, which causes loud vibrations of the uvula and soft palate.
Predisposing factors for snoring are nasal obstruction, craniofacial malformations, and disorders in the innervation of the muscles of the pharynx and palate, and the main cause is obesity.
The frequency of snoring provokes by:
- excessive food intake before going to bed
- alcohol consumption in the evening
- obesity
- use of sedatives
- constitution
- sleeping on the back, and more
Two-thirds of people who face this symptom have a body weight above normal. There is a correlation between obesity and snoring. Body mass index and anatomical measures of the neck are significant. Some people, despite all this, do not snore at all. That shows there are individual predisposing factors.
Chronic continuous snoring leaves significant pathophysiological consequences in the body, while occasional snoring for now without clear pathological effects. What is worrying are the repercussions that snoring leaves general condition, mental stability, and mental activity. Studies show that apnea and chronic snorers usually do not spend enough hours in the phase of deep sleep, which is essential for a good rest. So, daytime drowsiness is the leading symptom in them.
Below, read more about snoring treatment.
Although not a serious health disorder, snoring can ultimately lead to many medical and social problems. Remember that snoring also disturbs the sleep of the other person in the same room. One sleepless night is a lot, and when there are more of them in a row, it leads to an imbalance in the body and interferes with daily life and work.
The role of dental medicine here is becoming increasingly important on several levels, starting from recognizing the disorder, referral to a specialist, but also snoring treatment. After non-invasive methods, such as modifying patient behavior, there is a choice of intraoral device treatment, especially in patients with mild-to-moderate sleep apnea.
In most cases, general measures such as weight loss, smoking cessation are recommended, abstinence from alcohol, sleeping on the side, while surgically correction of upper airway abnormalities should be limited to special expressed cases.
NON-SURGICAL METHODS OF SNORING TREATMENT
These methods include all types of medications that reducing the REM phase of sleep, trying to prevent a decrease in muscle tone.
Intraoral devices in snoring treatment
Intraoral devices aim to position the tongue and pull the mandible forward to keep the pharynx open.
They can divide into:
- tongue retaining devices (TRD)
- mandibular advancement devices (MAD)
Of the non-surgical methods of treatment, continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) is the most commonly used today. This method uses a small compressor that blows pressurized air through the nose and mouth, acting as a pneumatic stent to prevent the throat from collapsing. Sometimes this is the only applicable method of treatment and requires the patient’s adjustment to reduced sleep comfort.
Non-surgical snoring treatment also includes:
- Losing weight
- Avoiding alcohol close to bedtime
- Treating nasal congestion
- Avoiding sleep deprivation
- Avoiding sleeping on your back
SURGICAL SNORING TREATMENT
This treatment includes several different operative methods and techniques with a tendency to resolve obstruction of the upper airways at the level from the nose to the trachea. The most common interventions are performed on the uvula-palatal segment because it is the cause of noisy sleep in over 60% of cases.
Methods of stiffening, lifting, or removing the free edge of the soft structures of the Velo-uvular complex aim to prevent their vibration or collapse during sleep and thus prevent the medical and social consequences of audible breathing. There are several methods to treat these conditions that are more or less successful.
Surgical snoring treatment has undergone a significant change and developed with the use of lasers and, more recently, radiofrequency techniques.
The successful snoring treatment eliminates symptoms and possible consequences such as:
- Constant feeling of exhaustion
- Daily drowsiness
- Concentration disturbances
- Nervousness
- A headache
- Slowness
- Depression
- Sexual difficulties
- Predisposition to obesity
The choice of snoring treatment method depends on the patient’s condition and the available means of treatment. The method should choose for each patient separately.