ENT surgeon designs device to cure snoring

KOCHI: An ENT Surgeon from Pathanamthitta has designed a device that would serve as a remedy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and snoring. Snorers were often told to sleep on their sides rather than on their backs and this was because when they lay on their side, the base of their tongue would not collapse into the back of the throat, obstructing breathing and that prompted Dr Rejith R S to design Sleep on Side, a device, more of a clothing accessory with a ball stitched at the centre which can be worn across the body, with the ball on the backside.

Traditionally a snoring-accompanied sleep has been considered to be a deep restful sleep. But scientific researchers had revealed that snoring was injurious to health, a release said.The condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which means a period of cessation or inability to breathe for more than 10 second, occurred during sleep due to obstruction while breathing. Apnea means a period of cessation or inability to breathe for more than 10 seconds, D Rejith explained.

Sleep on Side can be worn across the body so that the ball comes at the back centre of the body. It is helpful for sleep position modification changing the habit of sleeping on back to sleeping on side, the doctor added.

He further explained that sleep position modification benefits positional snorers (people who snore more while sleeping on back), people with positional obstructive sleep apnea, laryngopharyngeal reflex disease (acid reflux in throat) and gasteroesophageal reflex disease (heart burn). OSA can lead to high blood pressure; 2 to 3 fold increased risk of heart attack or stroke, depression and irritability, erectile dysfunction in men, uncontrolled diabetes and headache. Recent study shows it is better to sleep on side to prevent Alzheimers and Parkinsons as well.

Sleep on side is a very cheap priced when compared to other alternative treatment method, as it costs less than Rs 1000, he claimed.