Snoring (Rhonchopathy) Treatment

If snoring occurs regularly, becomes increasingly louder, or prevents you from getting enough sleep, you should not leave this problem unattended. It may be associated with ENT diseases, impaired nasal breathing, or other conditions that require treatment. The sooner the cause can be identified, the easier it is to select an effective treatment method.

At the Oxford Medical medical center, you can undergo comprehensive diagnostics and receive an individual treatment plan. Depending on the examination results, the doctor may recommend conservative therapy or surgical treatment if it is precisely what will help restore normal breathing during sleep and eliminate snoring.

Snoring, or rhonchopathy, — is a breathing disorder during sleep that occurs due to narrowing of the upper airways. As air passes through, the soft tissues of the pharynx begin to vibrate, which causes the characteristic sound.

Snoring can be episodic or regular. If it occurs only occasionally, for example after drinking alcohol, severe fatigue, or sleeping on the back, this usually does not indicate a disease. However, if snoring recurs almost every night, becomes louder, or is accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, it is important to undergo an examination to determine the cause of the disorder.

Snoring is not an independent disease. It occurs when the normal passage of air through the upper airways is disrupted during sleep. The cause of snoring may be associated both with physiological characteristics of the body or lifestyle and with ENT diseases that make nasal breathing difficult or narrow the lumen of the pharynx.

Physiological Factors

Sometimes snoring occurs due to factors that are not associated with diseases. These include:

• sleeping on the back;
• drinking alcohol before sleep;
• taking certain sleeping pills or sedative medications;
• age-related decrease in the tone of the pharyngeal muscles;
• excess weight, which increases the risk of narrowing of the upper airways during sleep.

In such cases, eliminating the provoking factor may reduce or completely eliminate snoring.

ENT Pathologies

One of the most common causes of snoring is diseases and anatomical changes of the ENT organs that interfere with the normal passage of air. These include:

• chronic rhinitis, accompanied by prolonged swelling of the nasal mucosa;
• deviation of the nasal septum;
• adenoids, which especially often cause snoring in children;
• enlarged palatine tonsils, particularly with tonsillitis;
• polyps of the nasal cavity and other formations that impair nasal breathing.

That is why it is impossible to determine the cause of snoring without an examination.

Regular snoring is not always merely an everyday problem. In some people, it may be associated with obstructive sleep apnea — a condition in which brief pauses in breathing periodically occur during sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, snoring is one of the most common symptoms of this disorder.

During episodes of apnea, the body receives less oxygen, which is why a person often does not get enough sleep, even if they sleep for a sufficient number of hours. This may manifest as:

• morning headache;
• daytime sleepiness;
• decreased concentration and work capacity;
• memory impairment;
• irritability and rapid fatigue.

With a prolonged course, the consequences of snoring can be serious, especially if it is a manifestation of obstructive sleep apnea. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart rhythm disorders, stroke, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diagnosis begins with an ENT consultation. During the appointment, the doctor determines the possible cause of snoring, examines the ENT organs, and determines whether the disorder is associated with the condition of the upper airways.

If necessary, additional examinations may be prescribed to clarify the diagnosis, in particular:

• endoscopic examination of the ENT organs, which allows a detailed assessment of the condition of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and pharynx;
• computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses, if anatomical changes or chronic inflammatory processes are suspected;
• polysomnography or other sleep studies, if it is necessary to confirm or exclude obstructive sleep apnea.

The examination results help determine the cause of snoring and establish which treatment will be most effective in a particular case.

Doctors at «Oxford Medical» recommend not using remedies for snoring without a preliminary examination. In rhonchopathy, treatment should be aimed not only at eliminating the snoring itself, but also at correcting the cause that led to its occurrence.

It is not possible to prevent the development of snoring in all cases, however, following simple recommendations helps reduce the risk of its occurrence or recurrence after treatment.

For the prevention of rhonchopathy, it is recommended to:

• maintain a normal body weight;
• promptly treat diseases of the nose, paranasal sinuses, and pharynx;
• quit smoking or limit it as much as possible, since tobacco smoke irritates the mucous membrane of the airways and contributes to its swelling;
• limit alcohol consumption, especially before sleep;
• if possible, avoid prolonged sleeping on the back if snoring becomes worse specifically in this position;
• follow a sleep schedule and avoid chronic sleep deprivation.

Doctors at «Oxford Medical» recommend not ignoring prolonged impairment of nasal breathing and promptly treating ENT diseases. Eliminating the causes that interfere with the normal passage of air is one of the most important ways to prevent rhonchopathy.

You can review the cost of an otolaryngologist consultation here in advance. During the appointment, the doctor will conduct an examination, prescribe additional examinations if necessary, and then create an individual treatment plan. Its cost depends on the selected treatment method and the scope of necessary medical services. To make an appointment for a consultation, use the online appointment form on the website or contact the contact center administrators by phone.

The information is for informational purposes only and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

Sources:

• US National Library of Medicine
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine