Why Snoring Can Be Dangerous

Tip! If you’re a smoker, kick the habit. Cigarette smoking can disturb your sleep and can increase the likelihood of snoring.

Many people who snore or live with someone who does think of snoring as just another annoying habit. However, snoring can be very serious and cause major health problems down the road. If you snore it means you are probably not getting enough oxygen when you sleep. Oxygen is required for many of the body’s functions, and without enough our body can have difficulties. Snoring may also be the sign of sleep apnea, which is a very serious condition indeed.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person actually stops breathing for ten seconds or longer, sometimes hundreds of times a night. A person suffering from sleep apnea isn’t at risk of asphyxiation, but there are many risks associated with it. For instance a person with sleep apnea may waken several times a night gasping for air. They often spend their days tired with a sore throat or headache.

Tip! If a cold or allergy causes your snoring speak to your doctor about taking allergy or cold medication. However, make sure the medication is free of antihistaminic side effects, which can worsen snoring.

Long term affects can include heart attacks and strokes since it can be very hard on the heart. This is because the heart has to work much harder to get oxygen to the cells when there is little getting to the lungs. Over a long period of time this can be very serious and lead to potentially fatal conditions.

Sleep apnea is easily “cured” however. You should see a sleep specialist before making any decisions in regards to treatment since they will help determine the degree of seriousness. If you have a mind case of sleep apnea you may just need to lose some weight or stop smoking. However, if you have serious sleep apnea you may need a certain device called continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP, which keeps your airways open. Surgery may be an option as well, but depending on the structure of your airway you may not be a good candidate.

Tip! Exercising and losing weight can not only be part of a healthier lifestyle for you; it can actually reduce the size of your palate. A smaller palate can reduce the likelihood of snoring.

Snoring may seem initially harmless but in fact can lead to very serious health problems. If you snore consider making an appointment with your doctor or sleep specialist toady.

Thomas Wilson writes about effective cures for snoring and other related topics for the Snoring Solutions website. Read more and sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.snoringsolutions.org

Tip! Avoid alcohol many hours before going to bed. Snoring is more likely when muscle relaxation occurs.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Tags

Comments are closed.