Clinical investigations over the last decade have revealed that sleep may not be the benign rejuvenating state it was once considered. Sleep apnea is now frequently recognized, and it is clear that patency of the nasal passages and the nasopharynx is crucial for successful treatment of the syndrome. Furthermore, partial or complete nasal obstruction even in normal subjects can cause sleep disruption, hypopneas, and apneas. This may partially explain some of the daytime drowsiness seen in patients with conditions such as allergic rhinitis.
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