Snoring is a serious medical and social problem. Snoring, from the point of view of human health, negatively affects the cardiovascular system, and can provoke the occurrence of sleep apnea. Socially, snoring is also dangerous, because as a result of hypoxia, a person with this problem constantly has a desire to sleep, and he can even fall asleep while driving. Viktor Yushchenko, candidate of medical sciences, otolaryngologist of the highest category, plastic surgeon spoke about modern methods of effective snoring treatment for estet-portal.com.
What are the main causes of snoring?
Snoring can be caused by many different factors. First of all, these are problems associated with the nose, for example, polyposis or a deviated nasal septum. Also, anatomical changes in the nasal cavity, such as an enlarged and pneumatized middle turbinate – concha bullosa. With this defect, the passage of air through the middle nasal passage is difficult, resulting in snoring. Enlargement of the inferior turbinates and hypertrophic rhinitis can also cause this sound phenomenon.
What non-nasal problems can cause snoring?
Often, snoring can occur due to hypertrophy of the lingual or palatine tonsils. With their increase, the passage of air through the oral cavity becomes more difficult, the palatal curtain oscillates, and thus snoring occurs.
One of the most common causes of oropharyngeal snoring is relaxation of the muscles of the velum of the palate.
Of course, there are also rarer causes of snoring, such as macroglossia or malposition of the epiglottis. Some causes of snoring are not related to the ENT organs. These include overweight and endocrine diseases. We at Clinic Nove Tilo are often approached with this problem by people who have a double chin. I think this is due to the fact that the fat layer presses on the root of the tongue, reducing the clearance for air to pass through.
Do you prescribe exercises to strengthen the palate?
These methods have the right to life. Gymnastics is carried out to maintain the tone of the muscles of the tongue and the bottom of the mouth. Thus, the tongue sinks less during sleep, and the palate sags less. But all these methods are temporary. Obviously, in the presence of anatomical changes in the nasal cavity, with polyposis or chronic vasomotor rhinitis, these methods are absolutely ineffective. Probably, gymnastics to strengthen the sky – this is a step of desperation. Before contacting a surgeon to solve this problem, a person tries all possible methods.
Tell us about the main treatments for snoring
The treatment for snoring depends on its cause. At the Nove Tilo Clinic we treat both changes in the nose and paranasal sinuses, as well as problems related to the oropharynx. If a person has a combined pathology affecting the nasal cavity and the oropharyngeal cavity – we carry out complex correction in these two anatomical areas. If you are overweight, we recommend a diet or consultation with a dietitian. And in case of excessive deposition of fat in the neck area, we offer surgical treatment, namely –
liposuction of this zone.
What is uvuloplasty? What are the main features of this operation?
Uvuloplasty or uvulopalatinoplasty – this is an operation aimed at increasing the gap between the root of the tongue and the palatal curtain. We evaluate the degree of sagging of the palatine curtain, and, in the absence of other reasons for the development of snoring, we offer this method of treatment. Uvuloplasty can be performed both under local anesthesia and under general anesthesia. During the operation, a part of the tissues of the soft palate is cut out, and it is strengthened. This is necessary so that the palate performs its separating function, and prevents food from entering the nasal cavity.
The final result can be assessed after a month, when complete healing occurs. However, patients feel the initial effect immediately after the operation. If we talk about the level of resection, we always try to use gentle technology. There is an opinion that it is better to repeat the operation than to violate the separation function of the sky.
What is sleep apnea and why does it occur?
Sleep apnea is a complication that occurs when air stops moving through the nose or mouth into the underlying airways. Most often this is due to sagging of the palatine curtain. In a dream, all the muscles of a person relax, including the muscles of the palatine curtain, as a result, the air flow is blocked, and breathing stops. Apnea can last from 15 seconds to a minute. When oxygen deficiency occurs in the body – the person wakes up to take a breath.
During the night, sleep apnea attacks can be repeated many times, in severe cases, patients do not breathe in total for 3-4 hours per night.
During respiratory arrest, blood pressure may rise and the blood supply to the brain may be disturbed, resulting in complications from the cardiovascular system – strokes, heart attacks and thromboembolism. Thus, the treatment of snoring is necessary for the safety of the patient himself. There are also less terrible, but important complications – it is irritability and drowsiness. When an irresistible desire to sleep arises in a person, for example, driving – he becomes socially dangerous. Such patients, due to the occurrence of apnea, regularly wake up at night, and therefore cannot rest normally. They do not have the opportunity to go into a deep sleep phase, during which the brain rests, and they constantly face the problem of chronic sleep deprivation.
Thus, timely treatment of this pathology in the clinic "Nove Tilo" will save you from such an unpleasant disease, and experienced specialists will select the most optimal method of treatment, based on the objective data of the study and the patient's complaints.
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