Snoring is a respiratory disorder that appears during sleep due to a narrowing of the air passage in the oropharynx, causing a vibration of the soft tissues. In many cases, snoring is a symptom of a more serious problem.  such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. It is a serious problem, affecting around 30% of people, altering the way they live with their spouse or friends, there is no cure and requires treatment.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is defined as a clinical condition characterized by repetitive episodes of obstruction/closure of the upper airway during sleep, by the approximation of the throat tissues closing the air passage, often resulting in oxygen desaturation and micro-arousals.

Sleep apnea is often identified as a problem by others who witness the individual during episodes (while sleeping) or because they experience typical symptoms. Symptoms can be present for years (or even decades) without identification.

Sleep apnea is more common in patients:

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– Male sex (twice as many as females) - Over 35 years old
– Obesity
– Hormonal changes
– Use of myorelaxant drugs (alcohol, sedatives)
– Neck circumference greater than 40 cm
– Smokers
– Heredity: increased risk of occurrence between 22 and 84% among direct relatives.

In the childhood:

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- Hypertrophy of upper airway tissues (adenoids and tonsils)
- Congenital malformations (genetic syndromes, micrognathia, retrognathia)

Apnea when left untreated can lead to:

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- Hypertension
- Heart problems
– stroke
– Diabetes
– Memory issues
– sexual impotence
– Obesity

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The diagnosis of sleep apnea is made through a test called Polysomnography.  The main symptom of sleep apnea is intense daytime sleepiness. This drowsiness can lead to: car accidents, intense sleep at inappropriate times, such as at work or in the classroom. The other manifestations of the disease include snoring (with breathing pauses, apneas), difficulty maintaining concentration and attention due to daytime sleepiness.

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