Daijworld News Network – Udupi/ Manipal (VM)

Udupi, Jun 11: Sleep related Snoring disorders are very common and about 40 per cent in adults and 11 per cent in children snore and it cause major health hazards.

This unconscious behaviour might have brought embarrassment to you. Not to worry, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal will open a unique sleep study clinic for early treatment and cure for snoring disorder.

Dr D P Saraswat chief operating office, KMC has announced that a special inaugural package on Sleep Study on Snoring will be launched for only Rs 1990 (Actual cost Rs 4500/-)  and will be available from June 12 to 14, 2006 at the clinic.

This, said Dr Saraswat, is a golden opportunity for those suffering from snoring problem. He further added that the clinic would function in association with the Department of Respiratory Diseases and has urged the people to make maximum use of this facility.

Know the Problem:
Snoring may occur at any age but the incidence is common in males and increases with age above 30 years and often linked to obesity. Male to female ratio of snoring is 2:1. Daytime sleepiness is the most common complaint among patients with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea). It can occur following meals, while sitting as a passenger in a car, watching television, attending meeting or while driving. Patients may notice difficulty in concentration, attention, memory, judgment, and impaired performance of tasks requiring dexterity. Apart from the annoyance to spouses and other family members, there are strong associations between snoring and a wide range of pathological conditions, including hypertension, heart and chest disease, stroke, insulin resistance in diabetes and depression.

Dr Gowrinath, professor and HOD, Respiratory Diseases, Kasturba Hospital says that 30 per cent patients will have generalized dull morning or night headaches. Night time symptoms in OSA are more specific than daytime symptoms. Loud snoring with brief gasps, choking sounds, snorts, vocalizations or brief awakenings are the common conditions in OSA. Sweating in the head and neck and restlessness manifested by tossing and turning is also commonly seen. Snoring originates in the oropharynx and in its mildest form is due to vibration of the soft palate posterior pillars of the fauces. Enlarged adenoids are the commonest cause of snoring in children. OSA can also be reduced by avoiding sleeping in supine position, avoiding alcohol and sedative drugs. Oral appliances that make breathing easier for mild sleep disorder are now available.

Sleep Studies

Sleep studies includes tests that watch what happens to the body during sleep and find out what is causing sleep problems. Adult with Snoring disorders regularly stops breathing during sleep for ten seconds or longer which may be caused by blocked airflow (from narrowed airways) or it may be caused by how the brain signals to the breathing muscles to work.

The Polysomnogram (PSG) study is a thorough procedure that checks brain activity, eye movement, oxygen  and carbon dioxide levels in blood, heart rate and rhythm, breathing rate and rhythm, the flow of air through mouth and nose, snoring and body muscle, chest & belly movement.