The National Hospital last week established a ‘Sleep Lab’ to help people with snoring problems.

A majority of people who snore regularly suffer from a disease known as ‘Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA),’ which blocks the air flow and reduces the supply of oxygen to lungs during deep sleep. In many cases the tongue blocks the respiratory passage as it folds back.

Many countries have sleep labs to study this condition. ENT Surgeon of the National Hospital, Dr. Chandra Jayasuriya, Dr. R. P. Dayasena and Dr. S. C. Perera were instrumental in establishing the Sleep Lab in Sri Lanka.

The respiratory passage of a snorer could be opened by inserting a small machine by performing a minor operation. There is also a second operation to prevent the tongue from folding backwards during deep sleep.