Waiting to inhale

When snoring turns from occasional to chronic, it is important to get a medical professional to ascertain the cause. Snoring is often dismissed as a health condition that accompanies ageing, but it more often than not indicates obstruction to the airflow in the nose and/or throat, says Dr Ravi Seshadri, consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Novena ENT – Head and Neck Surgery Specialist Centre.

What causes snoring?

According to Dr Seshadri if the snoring problem revolves around the nose, causes can vary from inflammation to an infection, whereas if the problem concentrates on the throat area, the reason could be anatomical.

“For example, sometimes the patient’s uvula (the little flap in the back of the mouth) is longer than normal, hence when the body is in a lying position, the uvula flops backwards and ends up blocking the passage of air. This results in snoring.”

Lifestyle habits can also lead to snoring. If you drink alcohol regularly, you are more likely to snore – alcohol functions like a muscle relaxant, so your muscles become especially lax and slackened. Excess weight can also contribute to the frequency of snoring. As you lie on your back, the fatty tissue places pressure on the neck, thus blocking off the airway.

ENT professionals can ascertain the cause of the snoring. “Some patients suffer from severe snoring because the airway becomes so badly obstructed that the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen,” says Dr Seshadri. “It results in a condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea.”

How is snoring treated?

For diagnosis, the patient must undergo a sleep study, during which his or her brain waves, heartbeat and breathing, among other functions, are monitored. If the snoring is due to sinus congestion, the symptom is treated accordingly.

There are also patients whose snoring is caused by structural issues, such as a deviated septum. This happens when the alignment of the bone and cartilage that separate the nasal cavity of the nose becomes off-centre, making breathing difficult. A deviated septum can be congenital, or result from a trauma to the nose.

On the other hand, if the snoring is associated with severe obstructive sleep apnoea, the patient may be required to use a machine known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), says Dr Seshadri. The device connects to a mask that is worn during sleep, and pumps air into the nose and through the obstructed airway in order to ensure proper breathing and minimise snoring.

As the CPAP is usually the first line of treatment for sleep apnoea, Dr Seshadri says patients have to try to get used to sleeping with the machine every night. Otherwise, surgery is the only alternative. That said, it is not recommended for patients battling weight issues.

“If the patient does not keep the weight off in the long run, the original problems, snoring included, will eventually return,” he says.

Dr Ravi Seshadri is an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, specialising in caring for patients with nasal allergy, snoring, and throat and voice problems. He also sees a wide variety of paediatric patients with ear, nose and throat problems.

Novena ENT – Head & Neck Surgery Specialist Centre

Main Clinic:
Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre

38 Irrawaddy Road #04-21/22/34
Singapore 329563
Tel: +65 6933 0451

Satellite Clinic:
Parkway East Medical Centre
319 Joo Chiat Place #03-07
Singapore 427989
Tel: +65 6346 7761
Email: enquiry_peh@novena-ent.com
www.novena-ent.com