Regular snoring affects up to 10% of the world population mainly between the decades of the 40s to 60 years frequently preceded by weight gain. There is a clear association between various sleep disorders and obesity, one of the epidemics of the twenty-first century. More than 50% of obese people have some type of breathing disorder during sleep and in the same way patients with sleep impairment due to severe snoring are more prone to weight gain. Under-diagnosed snoring related conditions range between 60% and 80% of general population.
Snoring seems normal to some but should not be considered such as habitual snoring by means snoring for more than 4 days a week usually is associated with periods of silence called apnoea’s where there is an intermittent drop in blood oxygenation due to obstruction at different segments of the upper airway whose duration ranges from 10 seconds to one minute and ends with a loud noise, suffocation, moan or sudden body movements.
Snoring can be also accompanied along with sudden movements of legs and arms can cause the couple to have to sleep in another bed or room increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.
Deep sleep gets fragmented by these microarousals resulting in memory loss, irritability, lack of cell repair and regeneration that not only promulgates premature aging but also increase the risk of work or traffic accidents by up to 20%.
Due to the morbidity and mortality associated with OSAS, its diagnosis and treatment is of vital importance.
The growing need to sensitize, educate and welcome patients suffering from rhinological conditions and functional nasal breathing disorders that affects the quality of sleep deserves a thorough and oriented medical history as the best method to suspect a sleep breathing disorder.
Sleep-disordered breathing can originate from different segments of the upper airway; therefore, the entire upper airway must be examined during evaluation. It should be clear that early detection of habitual snoring or sleep apnoea and its effective treatment are a powerful weapon of prevention against cardiovascular, cerebrovascular accidents and aging.
Otorhinolaryngologists and other allied professionals are the suitable specialists to diagnose and treat these problems in a comprehensive manner to restore the balance and improve the quality of life and sleep of those who suffer from these conditions.
The importance of the interdisciplinary care ensures efficient results and benefits both the patients and their family environment.
A comprehensive program composed by weight loss is achieved through the combination of healthy habits, exercise and even the application of minimal invasive surgical techniques could highly impact the quality of life of those whose snore or suffer from sleep apnoea.
