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<p><strong><span style="color: #00826a;">“Snoring”</span></strong> may seem like a common issue that can occur in all genders and ages, but did you know that snoring (Snoring) can occur alongside obstructive sleep apnea (Obstructive sleep apnea: OSA), which can be life-threatening? Dr. Uthai Praphamonthon, a specialist in head, neck, trachea, and larynx surgery at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital, says that snoring is a symptom indicating an obstruction in the upper airway, causing patients to have restless sleep with frequent awakenings.</p>
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<h4 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">Snoring is More Dangerous Than You Think</span></h4>
<p>Dr. Uthai says that people who snore and have obstructive sleep apnea experience excessive daytime sleepiness, which affects their ability to work efficiently and increases the risk of accidents. They are also at higher risk of other diseases such as hypertension, acute myocardial infarction due to ischemia, arrhythmia, and cerebrovascular diseases.</p>
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<p>Dr. Uthai explains that patients with obstructive sleep apnea often snore loudly during sleep or feel unrested, wake up frequently, have dry mouth and throat, and usually feel very sleepy upon waking or during the day. They may also be irritable, have mood swings, or have other underlying conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, or stroke.</p>
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<p>For children with this condition, symptoms are similar to adults, including snoring, difficulty breathing, restless sleep, possible aggressive behavior, attention deficit, poor academic performance, and delayed growth.</p>
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<h4 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">Checklist!! If You Have These Symptoms, See a Doctor Immediately</span></h4>
<p><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Symptoms indicating you have obstructive sleep apnea and should see a doctor immediately, according to Dr. Uthai, include:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li>Feeling tired and unrefreshed upon waking in the morning, frequent headaches, a strong desire to continue sleeping, feeling like you did not sleep at all during the night</li>
<li>Daytime sleepiness or falling asleep unintentionally during work, class, meetings, driving, reading, watching movies, or television</li>
<li>Having nightmares or sleepwalking, very restless sleep</li>
<li>Experiencing breathing difficulties or discomfort while sleeping, sometimes choking on saliva during sleep</li>
<li>Sudden awakenings with gasping or heavy breathing as if suffocating after a breathing pause</li>
<li>Having unexplained high blood pressure or ischemic heart disease</li>
<li>Decline in work performance or academic results due to sleepiness and lack of concentration</li>
<li>Decreased sexual performance</li>
</ul>
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<h4 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">How Do Doctors Diagnose Sleep Problems?</span><strong><span style="color: #00826a;"><br />
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<p style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #000000;">If you or someone close to you has symptoms of snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, you should see a specialist. The doctor will take a history, perform a physical examination, and conduct special tests as follows:</span></p>
<ul>
<li>Examine general characteristics that may cause snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, such as a short neck, overweight, or abnormal facial structure</li>
<li>Detailed ear, nose, and throat examination, including nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oral cavity, pharynx, soft palate, uvula, tonsils, tongue base, and larynx</li>
<li>Sleep study (Polysomnography: PSG) is the key diagnostic test. It can differentiate between simple snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, determine the severity of apnea, assess sleep quality, and detect any abnormalities during sleep</li>
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<h4 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea&#8230; Can Be Treated</span><strong><span style="color: #00826a;"><br />
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<p style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #000000;">Dr. Uthai says there are two main treatment methods:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><span style="color: #00826a;">Non-surgical treatment</span></strong>
<ul>
<li>Weight loss</li>
<li>Adjusting sleeping position, such as avoiding sleeping on the back because it can cause airway obstruction more easily than sleeping on the side</li>
<li>Avoiding medications or drinks that depress the central nervous system, such as alcoholic beverages, sleeping pills, sedatives, and antihistamines that cause drowsiness, especially before bedtime</li>
<li>Using oral appliances, which are devices worn in the mouth similar to mouthguards to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway. This method is suitable for mild obstructive sleep apnea</li>
<li>Using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep, suitable for patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea who are not candidates for surgery</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
<h2><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Surgical Treatment</strong></span></h2>
<p>This involves surgery to enlarge the upper airway and correct anatomical abnormalities. The effectiveness varies depending on the surgical method, which includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>Nasal surgery, such as using high-frequency radio waves to reduce nasal swelling, or correcting a deviated nasal septum that obstructs breathing</li>
<li>Tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, used when enlarged tonsils or adenoids block the upper airway</li>
<li>Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which removes the tonsils, soft palate, and uvula, suitable for cases with floppy uvula and soft palate causing airway obstruction</li>
<li>Radiofrequency ablation of the tongue base, suitable for cases with enlarged tongue base causing airway obstruction</li>
<li>Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery, which has a 95-99% success rate in treating obstructive sleep apnea but may alter facial structure</li>
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<p>Therefore, if you or someone close to you snores, do not take it lightly. You should see a doctor promptly to address the problem for sustainable good health.</p>
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<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Dr. Uthai Praphamonthon</strong></span><br />
Specialist in Surgery</p>
<p style="text-align: right;">Head, Neck, Trachea, and Larynx<br />
Ear, Nose, and Throat Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital</p>


People who snore and have sleep apnea experience excessive daytime sleepiness, which affects their ability to work efficiently and increases the likelihood of accidents. They are also at risk of other diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction due to ischemia.

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"Snoring" is riskier than you think... but it can be treated to return to normal.

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