How Snoring Makes Sleeping Difficult?

Snoring happens to be a very common condition that can affect anyone although it is the men and the people who are overweight who are most prone to this. Snoring is a tendency that can worsen with age.

The occasional snoring is not a great nuisance for your partner. However, if you snore habitually you do not just disturb your sleep but also your partner. Your sleep quality gets massively impaired and medical assistance is often required for habitual snorers in order to grab a good night’s sleep.

Causes of Snoring

When the airflow in the mouth and the nose is obstructed physically, snoring takes place. The airflow can be obstructed by a number of factors which includes the following.

  • Poor Muscle Tones in the Tongue and Throat – The tongue and the throat muscles can get too relaxed which makes them collapse and fall back into the airway. This can result from the deep sleep pills. The normal aging causes the muscles to relax.

  • Bulky Throat Tissues – Being overweight can lead to bulky throat tissues. Kids who have large adenoids and tonsils also snore frequently.

  • Obstructed Nasal Airways – There are people who snore only when they are have infections related to the sinus at the time of allergy seasons. The nose deformities like deviated septum which is the structure that separates one nostril from the other or the nose polyps can be responsible for creating nose obstruction.

  • Long Palate and Uvula – A long uvula or soft palate tissue at the back of the mouth can make the opening, extending from the nasal portion to the throat, narrow. When these structures vibrate and bump against one another the airway gets obstructed causing snoring.

Who is at Risk?

There are several factors that can lead to the likelihood of snoring. The risk of snoring enhances with age. The snoring prevalence is quite high among men than women. But is quite common among both.

Being overweight can make a person snore and it is the fat around the neck that puts added pressure on the airways during sleep. Excessive weight around the torso can also enhance the risk for this together with other forms of breathing issues that disrupt the sleep.

Alcohol consumption can also lead to greater relaxation of throat muscle as one sleeps which augments snoring. So you should not drink before 4 hours prior to going for sleeping. The snoring can inflame and irritate the throat tissues and it can also cause congestion and all these make snoring more likely. Snoring can also be triggered by eating a heavy meal before bed.

Effects of Snoring on Sleep

Snoring can cause great disruptions to sleep. The snoring sound can wake you up. If you are not aware of the snoring it can still give rise to fragmented and restless sleep and disturb healthy structure of sleep. The natural progression of sleep through the different stages all through the night is what is important.

In certain cases, snoring can also indicate the presence of sleep apnea. Half of the regular sleepers also suffer from sleep apnea. This is especially the case when snoring is loud, and it can be a definite symptom of sleep apnea. This is a condition that can have far-reaching consequences related to health apart from being extremely disruptive to sleep.

Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

These are different types of health risks associated with snoring apart from sleep disruption. Take a look.

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD

  • Irregular Heart Rhythm or Arrhythmias

  • Heart Disease

  • Mental Health issues like Depression and Anxiety

  • Risks of Injury

  • Headache

  • Excess Body Weight Gain

  • Foetal Complications

Therefore, snoring is considered to be a very unhealthy sign and you should immediately consult with your sleep dentist if you are a consistent and loud snorer.

Thankfully a number of effective dental appliances for sleep apnea and snoring have emerged today that can help you to reduce the intensity and frequency of snoring. These ensure your or your partner’s sleep is not disrupted and your other health risks are also brought under control.

That is why it is recommended that if you snore at night, it is not just sleep disruptive but also has some serious health implications. So without any delay, you should consult with your sleep dentist so that real problem can be detected and you are able to sleep better before long.

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