SNORING: COMMON ISSUE BUT COULD INDICATE SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS

SUBANG JAYA, April 9 (Bernama) – Around 47 per cent of over 1,000 Malaysians who were surveyed in a study were reported to be habitual snorers.

Though most of the cases were not linked to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Specialist at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Dr Megat Razeem Abdul Razak, stressed the importance of intervention to prevent long-term complications associated with the disease.

From the 2007 study, the investigators also found that only about eight per cent of the snorers who underwent a sleep study or polysomnography were diagnosed with OSA, with slightly more males than females suffering from the condition.

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“Snoring can be a sign of OSA, a condition where the airway becomes blocked during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. These pauses occur when the tongue and throat muscles fall back, obstructing the airway due to gravity.

 “The condition is particularly common in people who are overweight or have large tonsils, as these can contribute to airway narrowing,” he told Bernama.

Dr Megat Razeem highlighted that while snoring is often dismissed as merely a nuisance, it can also serve as an early warning sign for more serious health conditions.

“Not all snorers have OSA, but studies indicate that 80 to 90 per cent of those with OSA also snore,” he said.

Dr Megat Razeem explained that OSA, characterised by breathing interruptions during sleep, can significantly impact overall health if left untreated.

“Snoring, combined with symptoms like daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and frequent headaches upon waking, could indicate OSA.

“In extreme cases, OSA can lead to severe consequences, including accidents such as falling asleep while driving or experiencing microsleep, as well as heart disease and stroke. The lack of oxygen during sleep stresses the heart and brain, increasing the risk of these conditions,” he said.

For individuals diagnosed with OSA, the most common and effective treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, which helps keep the airway patent during sleep.

“The gold standard for treating OSA remains CPAP therapy. It provides air pressure to keep the airway open, allowing normal airflow. The pressure can reach up to 10 or even 16 centimetres of water, which acts by splinting the upper airway to facilitate breathing. Although it is effective, CPAP therapy can be costly, requiring evidence from sleep studies conducted in labs or at home to justify its use.

“For mild to moderate cases, Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) — mouthguards designed to push the jaw forward slightly — can also be effective,” he said, adding that CPAP remains the most accessible option for most patients.

Dr Megat Razeem said that long-term complications associated with OSA include heart failure, stroke and sudden cardiac death.

“OSA is strongly associated with hypertension, and CPAP therapy has been shown to improve blood pressure regulation in many patients,” he said.

Despite the serious health risks, many people remain unaware of OSA, underscoring the need for public awareness campaigns.

“Raising awareness about the dangers of untreated snoring and the importance of seeking medical advice is essential. In Malaysia, greater emphasis on sleep health through media campaigns and improved access to sleep studies could help reduce the burden of OSA,” he said.

-- BERNAMA

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