Snoring and You
It's midnight. You're being kept awake by a loved one's snoring.
Do you ever worry about their health? Everyone knows that
snoring is a nuisance at night, but did you know that there are
health risks associated with it?
Snoring is much more than an annoyance that keeps people awake
at night. It is important for you (or the loved one) to learn to
recognize whether or not there is a serious problem behind the
snoring.
In understanding the reasons for the snoring and what it may or
may not represent, you can take steps to improve your health,
not to mention give everyone in the house a peaceful night's
sleep.
The number of people that actually snore is astounding. It is
said that one out of every three people in the world actually
snore during some point in the night.
How does snoring work, exactly? As you sleep, your throat and
the muscles in your mouth relax. This includes your soft palate
and the tongue. As air moves past this relaxed tissue, the
tissue will vibrate with each breath. This results in snoring.
The less tense the tissue actually becomes, the louder a person
snores.
Snoring can occur due to many different causes. Those with an
extended uvula or naturally larger tonsils and adenoids are
likely to snore. A deviated or crooked septum in the nose, minor
illnesses that cause congestion, even obesity and the use of
alcohol can play significant rolls in whether or not a person
will snore.
While these all sound like serious dilemmas, there are more
serious health problems associated with snoring. Sleep apnea is
likely to create an individual that snores habitually. Sleep
apnea creates an obstruction in the throat that is so great, it
actually causes the sleeper to stop breathing. On instinct, when
someone cannot breathe during sleep, they wake up to get the air
they require. These breaks in sleep can lead to a significant
health problem.
And snoring is not just a problem for adults. Children snore as
well, which means that parents should be concerned about the
well-being of their child if he or she habitually snores. If
your child is easily distracted or seems tired all the time,
sleep apnea may be a factor. Checking with your child's
physician is crucial.
Individuals who snore habitually should see their physician, as
their doctor can help them find solutions to this noisy problem.
Over time, snoring can lead to other diseases, such as diabetes,
increased blood pressure, heart trouble, and in the most severe
of cases, death.
If you or a loved one snore, a trip to the doctor may be very
necessary. You'll be healthier and the entire family will thank
you for the peace and quiet they get throughout the night.