Is Snoring Affecting Your Health?
Do you or a loved one snore? People who snore often are unaware until a family member complains about the noise they hear every night. Snoring is caused when air flows past tissues in your throat that vibrate. Almost everyone snores at some point, especially if they are congested or have a common cold. The problem is when snoring is something that happens repeatedly every time you sleep. Snoring is one of the common symptoms associated with sleep apnea. You may be surprised to learn that snoring can lead to serious complications with your overall health. When you pair snoring with sleep apnea, it can be detrimental to your health if left untreated.
Snoring, Sleep Apnea, and Your Health
Sleep apnea and snoring alone can cause great problems with your sleeping patterns and habits; however, they can also cause other serious problems with your overall health. With sleep apnea, there are various pauses in your breathing throughout the night. This can lead to a heart arrhythmia, which is an irregular heart rhythm that makes the heart feel like it is racing. Speaking of the heart, your risk of heart disease or a heart attack is also significantly higher.
Patients who snore and have sleep apnea may also notice problems with reflux. The pressure changes when breathing from the air not moving as it should when you are lying down can cause the acid in your stomach to move back into the esophagus. Mood changes, irritability, and depression are also common in those who snore regularly and suffer from sleep apnea. Your body needs adequate sleep to function properly, and when that doesn’t happen, it can lead to a change in mood.
If you are concerned about your snoring or are interested to see how we can help your sleep apnea, be sure to contact our office located in Silverdale, WA and our team would love to help you! We look forward to helping improve your sleep!
