Snoring - the role of the laryngologist in diagnosing and treating its causes
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EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
Eur J Med Res (2009) 14(Suppl. IV): 67-70
© I. Holzapfel Publishers 2009
SNORING – THE ROLE OF THE LARYNGOLOGIST IN DIAGNOSING AND TREATING ITS CAUSES 1Department
E. Dzieciolowska-Baran 1, 2, A. Gawlikowska-Sroka 2, F. Czerwinski 2
of Otolaryngology, Independent Public Provincial Hospital, Szczecin, Poland; 2 Department of Anatomy, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
Abstract According to various data, snoring may affect about 2 billion people worldwide, with about 8 million adult people in Poland being estimated to snore. Apart from being disturbing for other people, it brings about a measurable risk for the patient, which results from transient anoxia. As a consequence, it may increase the risk of arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke and impotency, as well as mental disturbances like depression or anxiety states. The physician a snoring patient may consult in the first instance is the laryngologist. He determines whether upper airway obturation (in contrast to central sleep apnea) is dealt with, and takes a decision about treatment method, or redirects the patient to another specialist. In this paper, the position of a laryngologist in the diagnosis and treatment of snoring is presented. The material consisted of patients presenting with this problem at the otolaryngology department. The proceedings with patients in the admission office setting were described as well as qualification methods for further medical and operative treatment. A review of the applied procedures was made, in particular allowing for the most recent therapeutic methods. Key words: diagnosis, otolaryngologist, snoring, treatment
INTRODUCTION
Snoring is a very common phenomenon. It is estimated that at least 30% of the adult population snore. This problem increases with age, and over the age of 60 it affects over 50% of people, including about 60% of males and 40% of females [1, 2]. Among them, 30 to 50% suffer from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or upper airway resistance syndrome, which significantly increases the risk of arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, depression and anxiety disorders, or impotency disorders [3]. Snoring without apnoea may cause sleepiness during the daytime, morning sore throat and uvular swelling, mouth dryness or choking sensations. No less important is also its social aspect, since snoring disturbs the person sharing a bed, room or compartment with the snorer, frequently leading to a conflict [4]. The snoring problem also affects approximately 6% of children, of which almost 25% manifest coexisting apnea attacks
[1]. As a result, the child can have impaired concentration and memory, and show hyperexcitability or even retarded intellectual development. It may also have an influence on failure in the orthodontic treatment of small patients. The snoring phenomenon is related to disturbances in the movement of inspired air, which leads to the development of turbulence and actuates palatouvular vibrations.
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