Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Snoring
Snoring results from a partial blockage of air flow during sleep. It is not immediately life-threatening but may cause significant discomfort with disruption in sleep for the patient and the patient’s spouse or partner.
Causes of snoring are wide ranging any may involve any narrowing of the airway from the nose, to the throat, all the way down to the chest. Common causes of nasal obstruction involve a deviated septum and nasal congestion due to allergies or inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Causes of obstruction in the throat may include large tonsils, a low hanging soft palate, a large tongue, small jaw, or thick tissues of the neck.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when there are significant pauses in breathing lasting 10 seconds or longer during sleep. These interruptions in sleep, may result in daytime fatigue, sleepiness, poor concentration, high blood pressure, various heart conditions, diabetes, and increased risk for heart attack and strokes. The “Gold Standard” treatment for OSA is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. For mild OSA, or individuals who are unable to tolerate their CPAP machine due to nasal or oral obstructions, surgery may help improve their breathing and/or tolerability with CPAP.
