Can Grade 3 Tonsils Cause Sleep Apnea? Doctor Explains
-by ENT specialist doctor-Dr Sagar Rajkuwar, Nashik ,Maharashtra ,India -clinic website-
www.entspecialistinnashik.com
Table of contents-
- Introduction
- Can grade 3 tonsils cause sleep apnea?
- What Causes Sleep Apnea Due to Enlarged Tonsils
- Is there a significant link between tonsil grade, tonsil size, and obstructive sleep apnea?
- Summary
- References-
Introduction
Have you or your kid been given a grade 3 tonsil diagnosis, and are you unsure if this might be the cause of your loud snoring, disturbed sleep, or other symptoms? or nighttime respiratory pauses? One of the most prevalent causes of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly in youngsters, is enlarged tonsils. Excessive tonsil growth can constrict or obstruct the airway during sleep, resulting in daytime sleepiness, breathing problems, and low oxygen levels.
We’ll cover the symptoms of sleep apnea that you should be aware of, the potential causes of grade 3 tonsils, and the possible treatments in this article. — such as when a tonsillectomy may be advised. Understanding the relationship between tonsil size and sleep apnea can help parents and adults take prompt medical advice and improve sleep quality and general health.
Can grade 3 tonsils cause sleep apnea?
Yes, enlarged (or grade 3) tonsils may lead to obstructive sleep apnea by constricting the airway and blocking airflow during sleep, particularly in youngsters. This obstruction can result in frequent pauses in breathing, which can lower blood oxygen levels and make you sleepy during the day. To diagnose sleep apnea and ascertain if tonsillectomy (tonsil removal) is the best course of therapy, a medical assessment, often including a sleep study, is necessary.
What Causes Sleep Apnea Due to Enlarged Tonsils
Physical Barrier:
The airway at the back of the throat is physically obstructed or constricted by enlarged tonsils.
Relaxing Muscles:
Large tonsils might obstruct the airway more severely during sleep since the muscles in the head and neck are relaxed.
Lower Airflow:
This combination results in decreased airflow and may result in brief episodes of breath cessation, a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Signs to Watch Out For
Enlarged tonsils may result in a variety of sleep apnea symptoms, such as loud snoring, pauses in breathing while sleeping, restless sleep, daytime drowsiness, and behavioral issues or trouble concentrating.
When to seek medical attention
- See a physician if you or your kid has any of these signs.
- A doctor can tell whether the tonsils are to blame and whether a sleep study is needed to track oxygen levels and breathing while you’re sleeping.
Available Treatments
Surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids (tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy) is frequently an effective treatment for confirmed sleep apnea brought on by enlarged tonsils, especially in youngsters.
DISCLAIMER-Some patients go to net and directly take treatment from there which can lead to catastrophic consequences-Then- Many people ask then why to read all this text -the reason is that it helps you to understand the pathology better ,you can cooperate with treatment better ,your treating physician is already busy with his patients and he does not have sufficient time to explain you all the things right from ABCD ,so it is always better to have some knowledge of the disease /disorder you are suffering from.
Prabha ENT Clinic Care
You desire competent and caring treatment as soon as you are diagnosed with adenoids. We customize your care to fit your specific requirements at the Prabha ENT Clinic.
If any patient has any ENT -Ear nose throat problems and requires any , consultation ,online consultation ,or surgery in clinic of ENT specialist Doctor Dr Sagar Rajkuwar ,he may TAKE APPOINTMENT BY CLICKING ON THE LINK GIVEN BELOW-
Clinic address of ENT SPECIALIST doctor Dr Sagar Rajkuwar-
Prabha ENT clinic, plot no 345,Saigram colony, opposite Indoline furniture Ambad link road ,Ambad ,1 km from Pathardi phata Nashik ,422010 ,Maharashtra, India-Dr Sagar Rajkuwar (MS-ENT), Cell no- 7387590194 , 9892596635
Is there a significant link between tonsil grade, tonsil size, and obstructive sleep apnea?
GOALS:
The objectives of this investigation were to assess the relationship between oropharyngeal examination and objective palatine tonsil volume in snoring adults, as well as to confirm the impact. on the real tonsil volume, BMI, age, and severity of obstructive sleep apnea in the oropharyngeal anatomy. Additionally, we intended to evaluate how the size of the tonsils affected adult obstructive sleep apnea.
INTRODUCTION:
The oropharyngeal exam, which might reveal that adults with obstructive sleep apnea have changes in the geometry of their pharyngeal walls, is frequently impacted by these changes. When thinking about surgical treatment for this illness, the most important aspects are, in turn, the key factors. Additionally, it is unclear at this time whether there is a link between the real volume of the tonsil and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea in adults.
APPROACHES:
130 patients with obstructive sleep apnea or primary snoring who had pharyngeal surgery with intraoperative measurement of tonsil size were prospectively followed. Tonsil size was compared with anthropometric data, oropharyngeal examination, and preoperative polysomnography.
RESULTS:
There was a strong correlation between actual tonsil volume and subjective tonsil grade. Additionally, there was a strong correlation between tonsil volume and the apnea-hypopnea index. Tonsil volume was shown to be a multivariate linear regression model. strongly associated with age, BMI, and oropharyngeal examination, but not with polysomnography. Clinically, the uncommon tonsil grade IV was the sole predictor of more severe obstructive sleep apnea.
RESULTS:
In snoring adults, there is a significant relationship between clinical tonsil grade and objective tonsil volume, and this relationship holds true regardless of the presence or severity of obstructive sleep apnea. The volume of pharyngeal tissue is more likely a reflection of the body mass index than the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.
Summary
By constricting the airway and obstructing airflow during sleep, enlarged tonsils, particularly grade 3 tonsils, can cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This may result in daytime drowsiness, trouble concentrating, pauses in breathing, restless sleep, and snoring. A tonsillectomy, or removal of the tonsils, is often an effective treatment for sleep apnea brought on by enlarged tonsils, especially in youngsters who are particularly vulnerable.
Additionally, studies have demonstrated a clear link between tonsil size, tonsil grade, and symptoms of sleep apnea. In adults, tonsil size is frequently associated with variables such as BMI, age, and pharyngeal anatomy. Extremely large tonsils (grade IV) are more indicative of severe OSA. The cornerstone of diagnosis and choosing the best course of therapy is clinical assessment, which is frequently aided by a sleep study.
In conclusion, enlarged tonsils can greatly increase the severity of sleep apnea and impair nighttime breathing, necessitating prompt medical evaluation and treatment.
References-
This article is written as per the clinical experience of ENT Specialist doctor –Dr Sagar Rajkuwar(MS-ENT) ,Nashik Maharashtra -Clinic website-www.entspecialistinnashik.com References taken from-
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3161210/
For link on you tube video on -Can grade 3 tonsils cause sleep apnea? please click on the link given below-
