NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Surgery to correct nasal obstruction may improve the quality of life of people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, physicians in Taiwan report. The surgery can reduce daytime sleepiness and improve physical, psychological and social functioning in these individuals, they've found.
People with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep. It occurs when soft tissues in the back of the throat relax and temporarily block the airway. The condition is frequently seen in individuals who are obese and those who snore.
Dr. Pa-Chun Wang, at Cathay General Hospital in Taipei, and colleagues evaluated the benefits of nasal surgery to remove an airway obstruction in 51 adults with sleep apnea and nasal blockages.
They report, in the Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, that 3 months after surgery, 98 percent of patients said they were able to breathe through their nose better than before surgery.
They also reported a 50 percent improvement in snoring and less daytime sleepiness.
Moreover, several indicators of quality of life improved after surgery. Improvements were seen in physical, emotional, and social functioning, and mental health.
SOURCE: Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, April 2008.
