What Causes Snoring?

When air cannot pass smoothly into the windpipe and lungs, the narrowed upper airway causes soft tissues-such as the soft palate, throat walls, and epiglottis-to vibrate, producing the sound of snoring.

Which Type of Snoring Can Affect Your Health?

Snoring can occur in the general population. When a person snores without experiencing pauses in breathing during sleep, the main effects may be disturbance to people nearby or embarrassment from being teased.

However, when snoring occurs together with obstructive sleep apnoea, it can have a significant impact on health.

During pauses in breathing, the oxygen level in the blood decreases. This condition is known as hypoxia, meaning that cells throughout the body do not receive enough oxygen.

People with this condition may feel that they have not had enough sleep even after sleeping for many hours. Other noticeable symptoms may include:

๐ Irritability

๐ Poor concentration

๐ Daytime tiredness

๐ Feeling unrefreshed after waking

Another important concern is that repeated drops in blood oxygen can increase the production of free radicals and contribute to oxidative stress.

This may cause inflammation in small blood vessels throughout the body and interfere with normal blood circulation to different organs. Over time, it may accelerate cellular deterioration and premature ageing.

Long-term sleep apnoea may also be associated with an increased risk of degenerative and chronic conditions, including:

๐ Diabetes

๐ High blood pressure

๐ Cardiovascular disease

๐ Memory impairment or Alzheimer’s disease

๐ Degenerative joint disease

๐ Glaucoma

๐ Cataracts

Anyone who snores and suspects that they may also have pauses in breathing during sleep should consult a doctor for examination, assessment, and an appropriate treatment plan.

Treating Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Caused by a Relaxed Soft Palate

More than 80% of the loudness of snoring may result from vibration of the soft palate.

A relaxed or sagging soft palate can also contribute to narrowing of the upper airway and may lead to obstructive sleep apnoea, or OSA.

Traditional Surgery for Snoring

When snoring is caused by a sagging soft palate and an elongated uvula, surgery may be considered.

The traditional procedure is known as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP. It involves cutting and reshaping the soft palate and uvula using conventional surgical instruments and sutures.

Possible disadvantages include:

๐ A longer operating time

๐ Blood loss of approximately 50-100 cc

๐ Significant pain after surgery

๐ A hospital stay of two to three nights

๐ A longer recovery period

๐ Less aesthetically pleasing surgical wounds inside the throat

A Newer Surgical Technique for Snoring

A newer technique known as the Modified CAPSO technique, or Modified Cautery-Assisted Palatal Stiffening Operation, has been developed and is now recognised internationally.

It may be combined with reshaping and suturing of the soft palate and uvula in a procedure called Modified CAPSO and Uvulopalatoplasty.

Advantages include:

๐ A shorter operating time

๐ Minimal blood loss of approximately 1-2 cc

๐ Less postoperative pain

๐ A hospital stay of only one to two nights

๐ Faster recovery

๐ Better-looking surgical wounds inside the throat

This procedure may be suitable for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea.

For patients with moderate to severe OSA, it may be combined with other treatments, such as:

๐ Laser tonsilloplasty, which uses a laser to reduce tonsil tissue and reshape the tonsils

๐ A spring pillar implant

The combined technique is known as Hybrid Modified CAPSO, which consists of Modified CAPSO together with a spring pillar implant. This approach may be used to treat patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

 

Reference :

Phyathai 1 Hospital What Causes Snoring

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