Most of us have come to accept snoring as just another sleeping activity, but the truth is that it is much more than that.
If you snore chronically or share a bed with someone who does, then you know that snoring can hinder sleep and take away your peace. When you do not get a good night’s sleep, you wake up tired and are not productive. Hence, snoring can actually bring down your quality of life over time.
Do you want to know more about snoring and its quirks? Then you have come to right place. Discover facts about snoring that you didn’t know before.
- It is not a healthy occurrence:
Contrary to popular belief, snoring is not a normal activity that you have to get adjusted to. Ideally, sleeping should not involve any kinds of noises other than the gentle sound of your breathing. The sign of a healthy sleeper is the easy inhalation and exhalation of air in rhythmic breaths.
Snoring is caused due to an obstructed airway which disrupts the flow of air inside your nose. If you are suffering from flu or an allergy, then you can have a blocked nose. Otherwise, a blocked airway when you are sleeping is something that needs to be treated.
- Snoring affects the quality of your sleep:
You might think that once you are asleep, you will be unaffected by your own snoring sounds. In fact, a common myth is that snoring is an indication of deep sleep.
While it is true that your sleep won’t be interrupted by weird sounds, you might face some internal problems. Snoring actually cuts off the supply of oxygen to the brain which means that the brain cannot adopt a REM-filled sleep pattern.
You will find that your sleep is very shallow and can be disturbed easily. In fact, severe snoring causes you to wake up suddenly gasping for breath. This can lead to chronic sleep deprivation.
- Snoring is worth a visit to the physician:
The obstruction of nasal airways is not something that should be taken lightly. There can be a number of reasons why it occurs:
- Chronic sinus inflammation, narrow nasal passages, an elongated uvula or a deviated septum can all cause you to snore. When you snore, it affects the overall anatomy of the mouth since the soft palate gets inflamed.
- Common colds and allergies can commonly lead to smoking.
- If you drink alcohol regularly, the soft tissues tend to droop and block the airway.
- Even your sleep positions can play a role in increasing the chances of snoring.
- If you are deprived of sleep, the throat muscles relax which can lead to more snoring.
- Your cardiovascular health is affected by snoring:
Do not think that snoring does not cause any lasting damage. It is often associated with heart damage, increasing the chances of high cholesterol and heart diseases. Moreover, if you are a snorer, you will also be more prone to everything from obesity, stroke, to moodiness and irritability. It’s also been seen that Type 2 diabetes is more common among frequent snorers as is morning headaches.
- Your relationships can get damaged:
Whether your partner is angry with you because he or she cannot sleep at night due to your snoring or you snap at everyone because of the irritability caused by sleep deprivation causing them hurt; snoring can affect your relationships badly.
Conclusion
Getting a restful night’s sleep is essential for your health and productivity. If you need help with snoring problems, don’t hesitate to contact a healthcare professional.
Photo by danoxster 