Snoring: great night music
Why do we snore?
We can snore in a certain position, at our age, after consuming large amounts of alcohol and dinner, or perhaps because of our constitution. During snoring, the soft palate-pharynx-tongue muscle relaxes so much that it causes a blockage somewhere, so the air flow changes. The snoring sound is produced by the resonance of loose tissues (e.g. soft palate, epiglottis).
Benign or morbid?
Snoring can be regular, continuous, with a sinusoidal sound, i.e. benign, but it can also be abnormal, irregular, e.g. in sleep apnea disease. Sleep apnea can be recognized by the fact that the patient suddenly snored after a serious interruption of breathing.
What's behind it?
There can be many reasons behind snoring, but whatever it is, it is first important to investigate whether the patient has a sleep disorder. The examination is based on an instrumented examination during sleep (polygraph and/or polysomnography), which is followed by an otolaryngology consultation. These can be used to diagnose sleep apnea. The problem can also be caused by benign snoring, mild sleep apnea or UARS (upper airway resistance syndrome). The most important element of their investigation is endoscopy during sleep. The appropriate treatment can only be determined after a thorough examination, which can be surgical or instrumental anti-snoring intervention.
Constant nasal congestion
Constant nasal congestion is most often associated with a deviated septum, and only a few people know that nasal drip addiction caused by nasal congestion can also result in such complaints. The presence of irritants, allergies or chronic sinusitis can also cause persistent nasal congestion. Even in the case of such problems, it is advisable to consult a doctor, as regular treatment or even surgery may be necessary.
Nasal deviation: there is a gentle solution!
A deviated septum is a common problem, but surgery is only necessary if it really makes breathing through the nose difficult. In this case too, there is a gentler solution with fewer complications: septumplasty. During septoplasty, the nasal septum is returned to the nasal cavity after proper shaping, unlike resection, when it is removed. The operation can be performed under local anesthesia and anesthesia. It doesn't cause pain, it's just a strange feeling. In the case of septoplasty, even traditional, unpleasant tampons can be replaced with modern, continuously absorbent tampons or silicone splints, which can be removed after 1 day.
Are you suffering too? Get to know our otolaryngologist, Dr. Eszter Tóth , and register with us for an examination!