It is mostly men over the ages of 60 who “snore”, but what is snoring and how can you prevent it? Snoring has become a very common and widespread disorder, which affects about 75% of the population over the age of 60, mostly male. Often, it is wrongly attributed to the disorder of so-called “stuffy nose” or recent colds. In fact, it is a transient obstruction of the upper airways that can become chronic over time and in severe cases, it can threaten respiratory function.
What is snoring?
“The typical noise made is referred to as snoring and it is the result of incorrect breathing, caused by a change in the caliber of the upper aerodigestive tract (nose, pharynx, larynx), which does not allow a linear passage of the air. Therefore, the tract creates swirling flows that generate a vibratory phenomenon, especially at the level of the uvula and the soft palate. Almost always, the causes of these obstructions lead to alterations – more or less severe and often associated with one another – anatomical types in the field of otorhinolaryngology. Therefore, these alterations include the nasal septum, the inferior turbinates or oropharynx, enlarged uvula, soft palate and tongue base. Snoring is caused by sleeping in a supine position, while the frequency of snoring decreases significantly when an individual turns to the side. All this is simply due to biomechanical reasons, because in the supine position, the uvula and soft palate suffer the highest level of vibration.”
Are there other causes that contribute to the rise of this phenomenon?
“One of the diseases more commonly associated with snoring is obesity. In fact, it was found that all those who suffer an increase in weight begin to snore since the growth of mass weight increases accordingly to the thickness of the walls of the upper aerodigestive tract that impede the proper flow of air.”
What examinations should be performed?
“The first diagnostic phase includes an ENT visit in order to observe the situation of the nasal septum, the inferior turbinates and oropharyngeal and identify critical sites; then an endoscopy must be done on the upper airway by use of fiber optic instruments. Finally, you may need a radiological examination to measure the size of the vault palate and tongue. In fact, there is no single ideal and conclusive examination.”
How is snoring treated?
“In cases regarding significant weight gain – continues Dr. Sampietro – the first step to reducing the occurrence of snoring is to prescribe the patient a weight-loss diet. However, treatment is essentially involves surgery and proposes reshaping of those sections of the upper airways that are too narrow or that vibrate during breathing. The surgery, which is performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, affects mainly the nose (septoplasty, turbinoplasty) and oropharynx (surgery of the soft palate and uvula). More rarely, you have to intervene on the basis of language to decrease the volume. All these actions and traditional techniques can be performed even with more specific surgical instruments, such as a laser and the use of radio frequencies.”
Can snoring trigger additional respiratory function disorders?
“Snoring is simply considered as an annoying disturbance for a peaceful coexistence. Only at a later stage where alterations are seen, can we speak of the dangers to lung function, such as obstructive sleep apnea (defined by Anglo-Saxon obstructive sleep apnea syndrome). In this case, individuals who snore are subject to moments of actual interruption of breathing for a few seconds, which can in turn cause more serious problems to the patient such as hypersomnia, which is a syndrome that involves a persistent drowsiness during the daytime.”
