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The type of treatment considered will obviously depend on:
- the patient's wishes
- the results of the clinical examination
- the results of the nocturnal polygraph examination
Hygiene and dietary rules
In all cases, certain rules must be followed; they will very often reduce snoring and obstructive sleep disturbances, but rarely make them disappear.
Sleeping on your side should always be prioritized; sleeping on your back is the worst position, as it promotes the drooping of the base of the tongue and the soft palate.
It is essential to avoid alcohol consumption in the evening, as this will automatically increase snoring.
Weight gain should be managed; losing several pounds often reduces snoring to some extent, but rarely eliminates it completely.
Taking any medication that can increase hypotonia, such as hypnotics, anxiolytics, or even antidepressants, can also increase nocturnal muscle relaxation, thus worsening snoring and sleep apnea.
Possible treatments
Apart from hygiene and dietary rules, there are two types of treatment that can be considered: those that will try to eliminate snoring or apneas, and those that will essentially treat severe apneas but without curing them.
Local sprays are most often completely ineffective; they allow the airways to be "lubricated" for a few minutes and may be partially effective in cases of dry mouth.
Treatments that attempt to permanently eliminate snoring and sleep apnea are reserved for patients without sleep apnea or with mild to moderate sleep apnea, and more rarely, severe sleep apnea.
- Nasal decongestion by septoplasty and turbinoplasty
- Reduction of the soft palate and uvula (radiofrequency, laser)
- Tonsil removal or Tonsillectomy
- Reduction of tongue protrusion: mandibular protraction orthosis
These different treatments can be combined depending on the results of the clinical examination and the patient's wishes, either at the same time or at different times.
Patients with severe sleep apnea may benefit from nocturnal positive pressure ventilation, which will prevent apneas but will not prevent recurrence when the machine is stopped using it. The effectiveness of this type of treatment is remarkable and allows the patient to become aware of the different symptoms caused by their sleep disorder.
