Signs Your Snoring Can Be Dangerous
Snoring is often regarded as an uncomfortable, annoying problem capable of disrupting one’s sleep. It’s considered normal and sometimes people even think it’s a sign of a deep sleeper!
However, there are situations where it can be an indicator of serious health problems. Read on to learn more about snoring and the possible diseases it could indicate.
What should you know about snoring?
At some point in our lives, we all tend to snore. It is a natural process that occurs when air flows past the relaxed tissues of your throat, causing the soft tissue to vibrate as you breathe. An estimated 45 percent of adults snore occasionally, while 25 percent snore frequently.
For most people, snoring is a minor inconvenience while sleeping, but for some people, it can \ indicate a serious health problem.
When Might Snoring Turn Out to be Dangerous?
When it's harsh, loud snoring, or it's disrupted by lapses in breathing, we start to get worried. Snoring combined with breathing stoppages (Sleep Apnea) is a cause for concern. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep dysfunction where people stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer at a time.
There’s no way to monitor yourself for sleep apnea while you are sleeping. However, if someone observes your sleeping routine and notices gaps in breathing, it can be a sign of sleep apnea.
How to diagnose if your snoring is concerning?
You can determine when your snoring can indicate a health problem with an easy-to-follow acronym: STOP-BANG, established by sleep experts.
S (SNORING)
Snoring is as obvious as you expected, but we are talking about obnoxious, loud snoring. The one that makes you switch rooms with your partner or the kind that can be overhead through a shut door. After discussing with several patients with obstructive sleep apnea, loud snoring is a common symptom.
T (TIRED)
Feeling tired throughout the day is a key sign of poor sleep. Coupled with snoring, it can be a revealing indicator of sleep apnea. Daytime drowsiness is one of the main symptoms of sleep apnea.
O (OBSERVATION)
Oftentimes, most people have no clue that they snore at night. Nor do they acknowledge that they stop breathing during the night, except when the blockage is so severe that they wake up gasping and suffocating.
The O stands for observed apnea, and that's more detrimental than just snoring. If your partner notices breathing problems, loud snoring, coughing or finds you choking on air, then it can signal obstructive sleep apnea.
P (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE)
Obstructive sleep apnea can cause hypertension. Every moment a person stops their breath for a few seconds, the body's nerves signal action and raise the blood pressure. In addition, the body releases stress hormones called catecholamines, which can also boost blood pressure over time.
High blood pressure, alone, is not a key indicator of OSA. However, if coupled with other symptoms, a consultation from the doctor is required. Luckily, therapies for obstructive sleep apnea, like CPAP, have not only been shown to help with sleep apnea symptoms but also reduce blood pressure.
B (BMI)
A body mass index is a measurement related to weight. People who are overweight or extremely obese, with a BMI of 35 or over, are often found to have obstructive sleep apnea.
When a person has excess weight in their face and neck area, their soft tissues deflate, resulting in snoring and breathing lapses.
A (AGE)
With age, muscle condition deteriorates, including in the mouth and throat. Snoring is another telltale sign that your snoring is or can become obstructive sleep apnea.
N (NECK)
Having a wide neck circumference, either from being overweight or a hereditary trait is also a prime indicator of possible OSA. There is a rule of thumb that applies here - a larger collar size for a male over 17 inches, and a larger collar size for a female over 16 inches, indicates a higher risk for sleep apnea.
G (GENDER)
Males are at higher risk since they have thicker tongues and carry more fat on their upper bodies, especially in their necks. They also tend to have more belly fat, which can make breathing, overall, more complicated.
If you can relate to any of these signs, it’s critical to address the matter with a doctor. Get yourself checked for sleep apnea as soon as possible.
We at Sanrai, offer a wide range of premium sleep therapy devices to help you breathe better and more comfortably. Our personalized solutions for treating obstructive sleep apnea with BiPAP and CPAP are available all across India. Get in touch today!
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