Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. How much does it cost and where to do?

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Occasional snoring should not be a cause for concern, but if the problem occurs every night, it is worth starting a diagnosis for sleep apnea. What are the causes of snoring and how can you check where this ailment came from?

What is snoring?

Snoring is not only a nuisance sound that occurs during sleep – it is primarily a symptom of disturbed breathing. Snoring is bad for your sleep qualityand thus also the functioning of the entire organism. Problems with regenerating at night concern not only the snorer, but also people who hear sounds. And it is not difficult to hear them, because they can reach the level of 70 decibels, which is as much as a working vacuum cleaner. What can they result from?

What are the causes of snoring?

Snoring causes the uvula and soft palate to vibrate when inhaled, when the airflow through the airways is obstructed. If it happens every night, the snorer is not only unable to properly rest, but may also start to feel the effects of hypoxia. That is why regular snoring should not be underestimated. There can be many causes of snoring. They are primarily associated with airway obstruction.

The list includes, among others:

1. respiratory abnormalities such as a slanted nasal septum, enlarged tonsils, and uvula hypertrophy;
2. chronic sinusitis;
3. obesity;
4. asthma;
5. smoking.

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Snoring and sleep apnea

If left alone, it may result in the development of a complication of obstructive sleep apnea. At this point, it is worth paying attention to the fact that although not every snorer must have sleep apnea, all obstructive sleep apnea patients snore. The disease is caused by repeated episodes of stopping breathing during sleep, i.e. apnea, or severe shortness of breath. Its symptoms are not only loud, frequent snoring, but also fatigue, lack of sleep, problems with concentration and memory, and morning headaches.

An interruption in breathing during sleep must be longer than 10 seconds to be considered an episode of apnea. Since sleep apnea also occurs in healthy people, diagnosing the disease requires determining the exact number of apnea or low-breath episodes per hour of sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed when the above-mentioned index is equal to or lower 5 (in symptomatic disease) or equal to or greater than 15 in asymptomatic patients.

Are you annoyed by snoring? Do you suspect sleep apnea? Do not hesitate and consult an ENT specialist. You can find a specialist in your area on the website clinics.pl.

Home remedies for snoring

If your snoring is intermittent or the result of a temporary infection, you can try to tackle it with home remedies:

1. Instead of on your back, you should sleep on your side.
2. The head should be slightly higher than the feet.
3. The bedroom should be aired before going to bed and the humidity level should be in the range of 40-60%.

When snoring happens sporadically, with a cold, after a particularly tiring day or an alcohol-drenched party, there is no need to worry. When he accompanies us every night, he should not be taken lightly. In the case of chronic snoring, it is crucial to diagnose its cause. It may turn out that behind it are chronic inflammations (e.g. sinuses) or anatomical abnormalities that may require the implementation of appropriate therapy.

See also: Is there an effective cure for snoring?

Sleep apnea – diagnosis

If the ENT specialist excludes tonsil hypertrophy, a crooked nasal septum or obstruction of the nasal passages, and does not find any risk factors (such as obesity or smoking), a more complete diagnosis will be required. A test to diagnose sleep apnea there is a polysomnography, in other words – a sleep record. To do this, the patient must stay overnight in the clinic, where he is connected to equipment for electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (EKG), electrooculography (EEA) and electromyography (EMG). Additionally:

1. the flow of air through the nose and mouth is recorded,
2. chest breathing movements are monitored,
3. pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas are performed,
4. the volume of snoring is recorded with a microphone.

Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

What treatment will be implemented depends primarily on the results of the tests performed. In the case of anatomical defects of the respiratory tract, surgical intervention may be necessary, e.g. correction of the nasal septum curve.

In some patients it is used uvula, palate and throat surgerywhich consists in removing the excess palate mucosa along with a part of the uvula and, if necessary, also the palatine tonsils. The treatment can be performed using a minimally invasive method (e.g. using Celon bipolar energy). The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and involves the insertion of bipolar electrodes that provide a coagulation effect. Thanks to this, the procedure is bloodless, and after its completion, the patient can return to daily activities. Laser surgery gives similar results.

In order to snore less at night, you can also use special orthopedic pillows, such as the traditional orthopedic pillow made of Exclusive Dream thermoforming foam or the profiled orthopedic pillow with the Exclusive Dream microfiber pillowcase.

Also read: When is breathlessness a symptom of a serious illness? [WE EXPLAIN]

How Much Does Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Cost?

The cost of surgical treatment of snoring and sleep apnea depends on the method chosen. The Celon procedure is usually between PLN 850 and PLN 2500. The average price of the laser treatment is PLN 1300. For the treatment of sleep apnea with a CPAP device, you usually have to pay from 200 to 300 PLN.

Other treatment methods

The methods of low invasiveness also include microwave surgery. It consists in making small incisions in the area of ​​the soft palate and uvula. Importantly, only cells and tissues adjacent to the electrode inserted into the tissue are subjected to the waves. This makes it a safe method that minimizes the risk of complications.

A popular method of treating snoring is Supporting breathing with constant positive pressure in the airways (CPAP). For this purpose, a special mask is worn over the nose. It is connected to a device that creates a slight positive pressure in the airways. This has a positive effect on the patency of the airways during sleep and eliminates apnea.

It is also worth remembering about maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

1. quitting smoking
2. taking care of the proper body weight
3. regular exercise
4. avoiding eating before going to bed.