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Unless due to any deformity, snoring is harmless. It is absolutely common for people to snore. Snoring is more common amongst the older population as with age the throat muscles tend to lose their toughness.
Why snoring is harmful?
Any abnormal structure inside the nose or throat such as a deviated septum or enlarged tonsils can also cause you to snore. In cases of deformed structures, snoring is just a harmless side effect. These structures simply narrow the nasal passage in the throat that makes breathing noisy. Your breath can be loud due to nose and throat inflammation also.
Snoring can be bad for your health when you experience any of the following symptoms-
- Excessive drowsiness throughout the day
- Morning headaches
- Sudden weight gain
- Elevated blood pressure
- Pain in the chest, especially during the night
- Unable to concentrate
- Difficulty in breathing at night
- Interrupted sleep gasping for breath
These are typical symptoms of sleep apnea. This is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing stops abruptly while you are asleep. This leaves behind the person gasping for breath. This can prove to be fatal.
Here are 10 conditions linked to snoring or sleep apnea that snorers should be aware of.
- Stroke
Weight gain and sleep apnea are directly proportional to one another. If one of them increases, the other one increases as a result. Hence, the louder and longer you snore every night, the greater your risk for a stroke in the longer run. This is because of the arteries in the neck narrow due to fat deposits in this area. - Cardiac diseases
Sleep apnea is very closely associated with cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. Eventually, the risk of cardiac arrests increases. Fortunately, there are clinical studies that show that continuous positive airway pressure can reduce your risk of heart diseases.‘Sleep apnea is probably responsible for 38,000 cardiovascular deaths yearly.’
~National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research - Arrhythmias
In simpler words, this is the beating of the heart in an irregular pattern. There are research findings that prove the fact that people with sleep apnea are at a greater risk of suffering from arrhythmia than people without it or treated with CPAP. - GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disorder
Acid reflux is another common condition that can occur due to sleep apnea. Due to the unstable breathing during sleep apnea, there is a pressure change that brings the stomach content up to the food pipe. - Injury
You tend to have a disturbed sleep pattern when you suffer from sleep apnea. You tend to suffer from daytime sleepiness making you feel all groggy. It puts you as well as others in harm’s way. For instance, you can fall asleep while driving. - Mental Health issues
Are you half of the time cranky? It can be due to sleep apnea. It does affect your overall mental health. Research studies have established a link between sleep apnea, snoring, and depression. The more sleepless nights you spend due to apnea, the greater are the chances of mild anxiety and depression. - Headache
It’s quite obvious that when you don’t sleep properly at night, the next morning you are likely to develop a headache. This headache hampers your productivity. This is not at all surprising that headaches due to sleep apnea lower your quality of life. - Nocturia
The habit of getting up at night a couple of times is known as nocturia. This condition is more prevalent in men over 55 years. The most common cause is snoring and sleep apnea. - Complications related to the fetus
If you are pregnant and you snore, it can pose a health risk to you as well as the baby. There is actually a simple explanation behind this. When your body doesn’t get enough rest during pregnancy, it interferes with the health of the fetus inside the womb. - Sudden gain of weight
The extra weight gained near the neck and chest compresses the throat causing difficulty in breathing. It means that if you lose weight it will automatically alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea which means snoring. Proper treatment can help you get a good night’s sleep.Also Read: Myth or Fact: Does Obesity Lead To Snoring?
Few words from Pristyn Care
At this juncture, it is quite clear to you that snoring is dangerous to the body. The next step is to identify whether you have a problem or not. Ask your partner or keep an eye on your sleeping patterns. If snoring is continuously affecting your breathing, it’s best to consult with an E.N.T doctor rather than making assumptions. If the doctor diagnoses the problem due to abnormal structures, he might suggest a FESS surgery. Want to know more about E.N.T disorder? Drop your query in the comment section below!
Also Read: How effective is FESS?
