Snoring is not a habit, it’s a disease

SHAFAQNA TURKEY-Snoring and sleep apnea in adults (stopping breathing for a few seconds during sleep) occurs as a result of upper airway obstruction during sleep Adult snoring and sleep apnea (stopping breathing for a few seconds during sleep) occurs as a result of upper airway obstruction during sleep.

Specialist in Otorhinolaryngology Op. Dr. Mehmet Ege Akça stated that snoring and sleep apnea, which is manifested by complaints such as frequent sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating and daytime sleepiness, can lead to permanent damage such as “right heart failure” due to resistance in lungs in the future.

Specialist in Otorhinolaryngology at Emsie Hospital, Op. Dr. Mehmet Ege Akça, stating that snoring and sleep apnea are not usually associated with nasal congestion, said: “Contrary to popular belief, snoring and sleep apnea are not due to nasal congestion, but because the soft palate and tongue lean back during sleep.

Less commonly, snoring and sleep apnea due to nasal congestion can be seen in lean patients.

GETTING A LICENSE MAY BE A OBSTACLE”

Explaining that snoring and sleep apnea are commonly seen in overweight people, Akça said: “For this reason, obese people need to prove they do not have sleep apnea in order to obtain or renew their license. In diagnosis and treatment, polysomnography (sleep test) is the gold standard in which many parameters are examined, such as the level of oxygen during sleep and the time to stop breathing.

TREATMENT IS POSSIBLE

Providing information about his treatment, Op. Dr. Mehmet Ege Akça continued his words as follows: “Surgical methods and a sleep breathing apparatus (CPAP) are recommended for debilitated patients. In overweight people, alternatives such as diet, exercise, general life changes, and stomach surgery should be considered first. However, in cases where this cannot be done in the early period, surgical methods and a sleep breathing apparatus (CPAP) are used.

DIFFERENT SITUATION WITH CHILDREN”

Claiming that snoring and sleep apnea in children are mainly caused by the size of the adenoids and tonsils, Op. Dr. Akça stressed that, unlike in adults, it can cause developmental delay, tooth decay, speech problems, and even “recurrent middle ear infections.”