The nose, snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea

Abstract

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea are both due to multilevel anatomical obstruction, and the nose and nasal pathology both contribute in many cases. This paper addresses some of the issues surrounding the problem and briefly discusses the role of medication and nasal dilators and in more detail the implication of nasal surgery in various aspects of sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD). Nasal obstruction leads to mouth breathing, which destabilises the upper airway and aggravates SRBD.