People don’t want snoring to be a part of their lives. But it happens, and it can lead to light sleeping by the snorer and even worse sleep for anyone sleeping in the vicinity. That’s why one reason why eliminating snoring is so important, but there are other reasons, too.
Snoring can be a warning sign of future health risks that range from mild to severe. Yes, snoring is annoying to both the snorer and anyone sleeping in the same room, but the effects of snoring extend far beyond just annoyance.
Read these reviews if you’re interested in devices that can help you stop snoring. And, know that any failure to stop snoring can lead to the following 5 health risks:
#1. Heart Conditions
Many snorers don’t realize that they could potentially do damage to their hearts. First and foremost, snoring is known to raise blood pressure and also to enlarge the heart in some cases. When these things happen, the risk of heart attack and stroke skyrockets.
Snoring can also create abnormally low oxygen levels in the blood. When oxygen levels in the blood are low, the flow of blood vessels to the lungs becomes constricted. In time, this condition could lead to what’s known as “pulmonary hypertension,” which is a type of high blood pressure that specifically affects the lungs.
#2. Obesity
Snoring is also associated with excessive weight gain and obesity, though there is some debate over the cause and effect. For example, some studies indicate that weight gain leads to snoring, while some indicate that snoring leads to weight gain.
Either way, losing weight and eliminating snoring are always going to improve your overall health and wellness.
#3. Breathing Trouble
Under CPAP therapy, the leading treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, patients must use CPAP for certain hours every day to reduce snoring and realize other benefits. CPAP masks are an integral part of adherence to the treatment, so they have to be comfortable to use. Check out nasal pillows and more mask choices for sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is the perhaps the gravest health risk associated with snoring. It can be caused by any number of things, but its risks are all the same.
When someone suffers from sleep apnea, the upper airway is blocked continually during sleep. This leads to long periods of time (10 seconds or more) when there’s zero air flowing into and out of the body.
Doctors can recommend a series of treatments for sleep apnea, and they can also make behavioral recommendations for lowering the effects of sleep apnea. If you have any concern that sleep apnea might be affecting your sleep and your life, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Overly long stints without airflow can prove fatal in many who suffer from sleep apnea.
#4. Chronic Headaches
There’s nothing fatal about a headache, but a headache can seriously detract from your quality of life and your ability to do the things that you want to do. Those who snore are far likelier to suffer from chronic headaches.
Headaches create problems both during the day and at night. During the day, they make it more difficult to focus and to be productive in workplace settings. At night, they make it more difficult to get quality, restful sleep — which, in turn, makes it more difficult to focus and to be productive the next day.
You may be tempted to treat the symptoms of chronic headaches by using over-the-counter medication, but the best way to eliminate snoring-related headaches is by eliminating snoring.
#5. Sleep Deprivation
Perhaps the most obvious snoring-related health risk is sleep deprivation. Without quality sleep, it’s impossible for anyone to reach their peak potential during the day.
Snorers are known to sleep more lightly as the muscles in their throats struggle for more airflow. Snorers also wake up much more frequently, which disrupts natural sleep cycles and makes it nearly impossible to maximize restfulness. After sleeping lightly and after getting up frequently, a snorer may feel like a zombie during the day — which can naturally reduce the quality of life and the ability to excel at work and in other settings.
No matter how snoring is holding you back, whether by sleep deprivation, headaches or something life-threatening like sleep apnea, there are a number of possible solutions. Simply choose better mattress support for snore symptoms might be the perfect solution for you, or you may want to talk to your doctor about a CPAP mask or even surgery. No matter what you do, it’s important to take action that can eliminate snoring and boost your quality of sleep and life.
Get the Help You Need
When you find a way to stop snoring, you not only boost your quality of life, you also greatly reduce the associated health risks. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about snoring, the related health risks, and the best ways for you to put an end to your snoring. And, once sleeping is behind you, you are free to focus on other ways to get the best possible sleep, night after night.
