Diagnosis and therapy of primary snoring

Snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and nocturnal apnoea are among the leading symptoms of the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Primary snoring without upper airway obstruction is a more common and normal phenomenon in sleep and has to be distinguished from OSAS. Patients with primary snoring are often suffering and complain of great distress and social embarrassment and therefore request professional help. Therefore, the otorhinolaryngologist has to be aware of the different treatment options that are possible and sensible. Apart from behavioral changes and general measures (weight loss, reduction of alcohol consumption, sleep position training), there are different conservative and surgical treatment options. In this article, the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of primary snoring will be discussed.