Obstructive sleep apnea, is, in fact, an extreme case of snoring. Snoring can result in minor, serious, and sometimes fatal conditions. The social aspects of snoring can be psychologically damaging and disruptive to the family life of the patient. The damaging effects of a snoring condition can be prevented. During routine physical examinations, physicians need to be alert for airway obstruction and take thorough histories to document presence or absence of sleep dysfunctions. Surgical or medical management of snoring provides relief to a vast majority of patients.
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