Seeking the best snoring treatment in Bangalore, a 40-year-old man, as shown in the photographs, presented to our hospital with a long-standing history of snoring that had worsened over the past few years. With the passing of time, he had also noted increased daytime sleepiness and trouble concentrating at work. He had casually dismissed the habit, which he blamed on his long working hours and tight deadlines. However, it was only until he was married that his wife pointed out his unusually loud snoring, combined with episodic choking sounds during his sleep. After researching his condition online, they decided to consult a doctor and seek improvement in his condition at one of the centers known for offering the best snoring treatment in Bangalore.

• A detailed history was taken about his habits that involved a history of smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep habits, familial history of snoring and any medical history. Medical history was stressed upon, as comorbidities such as asthma, obstructive pulmonary disorders, chronic bronchitis or any history of heart disease and obesity act as risk factors for snoring.

• To provide the best snoring treatment in Bangalore, a thorough physical examination was carried out, which involved a complete head and neck evaluation looking for any signs of nasal congestion, blocked nasal passages, enlarged tonsils, deviated nasal septum or a retruded lower jaw/ hypoplastic mandible.

• Nasopharyngeal laryngoscopy with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope can also be done in suspected cases of nasal blockages but is usually reserved for severe cases. A diagnostic computed tomography scan to rule out anatomical variations was advised along with a sleep study (polysomnography), ensuring accurate diagnosis before planning the best snoring treatment in Bangalore tailored to the patient’s needs.

What Is A Sleep Study/ Polysomnography?

• Polysomnography is the reference standard for diagnosis of sleep disorders. In this study, the sleeping patient is observed for oxygen saturation levels, degree of respiratory effort, electrocardiographic measurements, amount of oral and nasal airflow, body position and overall body movement. Many patients who look for the best snoring treatment in Bangalore are first recommended to undergo this test to evaluate the severity of their condition.

 

• The sleep study is done overnight at our center and the reports are delivered the following day. The polysomnography test has components such as the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI Index) and oxygen saturation levels, Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) that determine the severity of the condition by categorizing sleep apnoea as mild, moderate or severe. Patients seeking the best snoring treatment in Bangalore benefit greatly from these findings, as they help doctors tailor the treatment plan to individual needs.
  
  
• AHI Index between 5-14/h and an 86% oxygen saturation level is a mild OSA score. Moderate sleep apnoea has an index score of 15-30/h or an oxygen saturation level of 80%- 85% along with a clinically significant dysfunction at work or at social events because of daytime somnolence and loss of concentration. AHI score >30/h or an oxygen saturation level of ≤79% with an incapacitation caused by the sleep disorder is defined as a severe case of OSA. For those struggling with such symptoms, opting for the best snoring treatment in Bangalore ensures timely diagnosis and effective management.

 

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

OSA is characterized by recurring episodes of airway obstruction during sleep that results in decreased or total cessation of airflow despite ongoing respiratory efforts, leading to oxygen desaturation and frequent arousals. Many patients experiencing these symptoms consult specialists for the best snoring treatment in Bangalore to manage their condition effectively.

Common causes of OSA include:
➔ Excessive weight gain (fatty tissue in the throat narrows and blocks the airway when the muscles relax) or obesity
➔ Age (loss of upper airway muscle tone and mass)
➔ Irregular sleep hours
➔ Gender (men tend to have narrower airways than women)
➔ Anatomic abnormalities (nasal obstruction, elongated soft palate, large tonsils and adenoids, increased tongue tissue)
➔ Use of alcohol and sedatives (relaxes the musculature)
➔ Smoking (causes inflammation and swelling of the upper airway)

Consulting for the best snoring treatment in Bangalore helps address these risk factors and provide customized solutions like lifestyle modifications, CPAP therapy, or surgical interventions depending on severity.

Snoring vs OSA

Snoring is the vibration of the soft tissues of the uvula, soft palate, and/or pharynx during sleep. Complex vibratory patterns caused by anatomical considerations, such as an enlarged soft palate or uvula, combined with turbulent airflow, result in snoring. Many patients visit specialists seeking the best snoring treatment in Bangalore to manage habitual snoring.

Although snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) resulting from airway obstruction, snoring itself does not necessarily involve cessation of breathing. Many “snorers” have normal sleep study results. Reduced muscle tone during sleep makes the tissues more compliant, producing the characteristic snoring noise, which can occur during oral, nasal, or oronasal breathing and often worsens when sleeping in a supine position.

Consulting the best snoring treatment in Bangalore ensures that snoring is properly evaluated, and if OSA is suspected, appropriate diagnosis and treatment options are provided to improve sleep quality and overall health.

Treatment of Snoring and OSA

Snoring and Mild OSA:

Snoring and mild OSA patients are first advised to adopt lifestyle changes. Alcohol consumption, smoking, and sedative use should be avoided. Patients are encouraged to sleep on their sides instead of their backs or with their head elevated, along with regularizing sleep hours. Pillows can be used to maintain side sleeping position.

Obese patients are provided a diet plan for weight reduction along with an appropriate exercise schedule to maintain mobility. Nasal symptoms or allergies are treated with intranasal sprays, medications, or antihistamines.

If nasal blockage is the cause of snoring, patients are advised to try nasal dilators or conformers during sleep to improve airway patency. Mandibular advancement splints are also used to advance the muscles of the pharynx and mouth. Patients seeking the best snoring treatment in Bangalore often combine these conservative methods for optimal results.

Conservative palatal procedures, such as LAUP (Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty using CO₂ laser to reshape the uvula and soft palate), RVTR (Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction), or electrocautery of the soft palate, help reduce tissue size in the upper airway.

Radiofrequency ablation of the palate (somnoplasty) stiffens the soft palate and increases airway patency, providing effective snoring relief. Patients looking for the best snoring treatment in Bangalore often consider these procedures when lifestyle modifications alone are insufficient.

For more persistent cases, combining lifestyle adjustments, splints, and minor palatal procedures under expert supervision ensures a comprehensive approach. Consulting the best snoring treatment in Bangalore helps patients select the most suitable combination of treatments.

In specialized cases, procedures like somnoplasty or LAUP performed at top centers in Bangalore can provide long-lasting relief, making them a preferred choice for those seeking the best snoring treatment in Bangalore.

Moderate OSA

• Patients with moderate apnoea are treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

• CPAP therapy consists of a device that requires the patient to wear a mask over their nose during sleep, with pressure adjusted to keep the airway open at night.

• Although CPAP therapy is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea, many patients complain about the discomfort of using the device.

• This therapy is often unsuccessful due to patient noncompliance.

• Patients can consult the best snoring treatment in Bangalore for alternative or adjunctive therapies to improve comfort and compliance.

Severe Osa/surgical Management Of Chronic Snoring:

• The more aggressive palatal procedures such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) are generally reserved for severe OSA or patients with unsuccessful results with other modalities of treatment.
• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure which removes soft tissue at the back of the throat which includes the uvula, tonsils (if present) and part of the redundant soft palate. But it does not address problems originating at the base of the tongue or hypopharynx.
• Septoplasty is done in cases of a deviated nasal septum.
• Tonsillectomy/ adenoidectomy is effective in some children and adults with enlarged tonsils.
• Hyoid advancement procedures are difficult, risky with inconsistent results.
• Each of these procedures has its own advantages and limitations.
• Maxillomandibular advancement surgery (MMA) can be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
  ➔ In MMA, the bones of the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) are repositioned anteriorly to relieve the airway obstruction.
  ➔ In moving the upper and lower jaws forward, the attached pharyngeal airway muscles and the muscles of the tongue are now anteriorly positioned thus simultaneously increasing the pharyngeal soft tissue tension and thus increasing the posterior airway space and volume.
  ➔ 3-D virtual scanning and imaging is utilized to plan the surgical movements of the jaw on the software in our “in-house 3D virtual surgical planning and printing (VSP) lab”, significantly reducing the intra-operative time and maximizing the accuracy of the cuts and efficiency in the operating room.
  ➔ After the operation, patients are typically monitored overnight in an ICU setting, with an overall five-to-six inpatient hospital stay.
  ➔ Changes in facial appearance are visible and variable depending on the patient’s preoperative anatomy.
  ➔ Most patients immediately speak of improvement in their snoring and sleep quality just two days after surgery.

The Polysomnography report as shown in the above image is a comparison of our patient’s sleep indices before surgery and post-surgery. As it can be seen from the reports of this patient, the AHI and Oxygen desaturation (ODI) indices before surgery were a whooping 62.4/h and 56.2/h respectively. Post Maxillomandibular advancement surgery, a sleep study was repeated after a month and a drastic reduction in the AHI and ODI values was seen: AHI index- 14.1/h and ODI index- 19.1/h! Patients looking for the best snoring treatment in Bangalore can benefit from such surgical interventions under expert guidance.

The above image shows the before-surgery and 1-year post-surgery photographs of our 40-year-old patient treated for OSA. Along with the elimination of snoring and considerable improvement in his quality of sleep, there were visible changes in his facial appearance, notably the contour of his lower jaw and reduction in the double chin, highlighting the results of the best snoring treatment in Bangalore.

The above image is a comparison of the pre-op scan and post-op sagittal section scan of the patient. The pre-op scan shows a clear obstruction of the posterior airway space by the pharyngeal muscles and the bulk of the tongue musculature along with a retruded mandible. The post-operative scan shows forwardly positioned pharyngeal muscles due to an advanced mandible post-surgery, thus opening up the posterior airway space and increasing the posterior airway volume. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the best snoring treatment in Bangalore for improving airway patency and reducing sleep-disordered breathing.

 

The lateral/side profile of the patient shows a visible difference in the position of the lower jaw.
Post surgery, the lower jaw is much forwardly placed, pulling the muscles along with it
anteriorly, thus freeing up posterior airway space.