Stop Snoring - It Might Save Your Life And Your Relationship
Easier said than done, right? Snoring is the subject of many a joke.
From the guys fighting over who has to share a room with "Snoring Sam" on a golf trip to the weary traveler who looks around the gate area in an airport hoping not to have to sit by "Snoring Sally", no one enjoys the company of a snorer.
Many relationships suffer due to sleeping in separate bedrooms.
While snoring is quite the annoyance, it is an indicator of a much bigger, serious problem.
SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING When we sleep, the muscles in the neck relax and can cause the airway to collapse.
The tongue falls backward into the throat and vibrates against the soft palate causing the familiar noise of snoring.
If the airway is only closed partially, it is a condition called "Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome" which simply means that the air flow is restricted through the windpipe.
If the airway is closed off completely, it represents a condition known as "Obstructive Sleep Apnea" or "OSA" for short.
OSA can vary in severity from mild to moderate to severe depending on the number of times per hour breathing stops for 10 seconds or more.
All of these conditions can cause a reduction in oxygen throughout the body at night and lead to a number of health conditions.
SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING -Headaches -Poor concentration -Loss of libido -Tiredness upon awakening -Daytime sleepiness -Snoring -Gasping for air CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SNORING AND SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING -Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) -Coronary Artery Disease -Stroke HYPERTENSION Those who suffer from sleep disordered breathing experience drops in oxygen levels as the airway closes.
When the brain discovers the need for oxygen, it sends a signal to wake the person up called an arousal.
Often these arousals are so short they go unnoticed but can occur frequently throughout the night.
The drop in oxygen levels caused by not breathing and the increase in heart rate and blood pressure due to frequent awakenings puts stress on the heart.
This results in a rise in blood pressure during the night and during the day-permanently.
Many people are on blood pressure medication without really knowing the cause.
In many cases, sleep disordered breathing is the cause and can be treated without the use of drugs.
CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE Constricted arteries and the buildup of fatty material and plaque (atherosclerosis) in those arteries results in coronary artery disease.
Sleep disordered breathing causes a drop in blood oxygen levels and a rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
The heart is then forced to work harder.
At the same time, the heart needs more oxygen due to sleep disordered breathing or OSA and the blood vessels are narrowed due to plaque buildup.
Lack of blood flow occurs and the heart has to pump harder through a smaller vessel which can strain the heart enough to cause a heart attack.
STROKE Strokes occur when the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain is completely or partially restricted.
In a person with OSA or sleep disordered breathing, blood flow and oxygen are already diminished further increasing the chances of having a stroke.
TREATMENT FOR SNORING AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA Diagnosis of sleep apnea must be made by a medical doctor from a home, unattended sleep study or more commonly from a sleep study done in a hospital or sleep clinic.
For patients with severe apnea, CPAP is the best option to keep the airway open and improve quantity and quality of life.
For mild or moderate sleep apnea as well as snoring, dental devices similar to a retainer often correct the problem.
Wearing a mouthpiece at night can improve oxygen levels, and improve the overall health of the patient.
Without the disturbing noise of snoring as well as improving health, relationships can benefit as well.
Snoring should never be dismissed without further investigation.
From the guys fighting over who has to share a room with "Snoring Sam" on a golf trip to the weary traveler who looks around the gate area in an airport hoping not to have to sit by "Snoring Sally", no one enjoys the company of a snorer.
Many relationships suffer due to sleeping in separate bedrooms.
While snoring is quite the annoyance, it is an indicator of a much bigger, serious problem.
SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING When we sleep, the muscles in the neck relax and can cause the airway to collapse.
The tongue falls backward into the throat and vibrates against the soft palate causing the familiar noise of snoring.
If the airway is only closed partially, it is a condition called "Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome" which simply means that the air flow is restricted through the windpipe.
If the airway is closed off completely, it represents a condition known as "Obstructive Sleep Apnea" or "OSA" for short.
OSA can vary in severity from mild to moderate to severe depending on the number of times per hour breathing stops for 10 seconds or more.
All of these conditions can cause a reduction in oxygen throughout the body at night and lead to a number of health conditions.
SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING -Headaches -Poor concentration -Loss of libido -Tiredness upon awakening -Daytime sleepiness -Snoring -Gasping for air CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SNORING AND SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING -Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) -Coronary Artery Disease -Stroke HYPERTENSION Those who suffer from sleep disordered breathing experience drops in oxygen levels as the airway closes.
When the brain discovers the need for oxygen, it sends a signal to wake the person up called an arousal.
Often these arousals are so short they go unnoticed but can occur frequently throughout the night.
The drop in oxygen levels caused by not breathing and the increase in heart rate and blood pressure due to frequent awakenings puts stress on the heart.
This results in a rise in blood pressure during the night and during the day-permanently.
Many people are on blood pressure medication without really knowing the cause.
In many cases, sleep disordered breathing is the cause and can be treated without the use of drugs.
CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE Constricted arteries and the buildup of fatty material and plaque (atherosclerosis) in those arteries results in coronary artery disease.
Sleep disordered breathing causes a drop in blood oxygen levels and a rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
The heart is then forced to work harder.
At the same time, the heart needs more oxygen due to sleep disordered breathing or OSA and the blood vessels are narrowed due to plaque buildup.
Lack of blood flow occurs and the heart has to pump harder through a smaller vessel which can strain the heart enough to cause a heart attack.
STROKE Strokes occur when the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain is completely or partially restricted.
In a person with OSA or sleep disordered breathing, blood flow and oxygen are already diminished further increasing the chances of having a stroke.
TREATMENT FOR SNORING AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA Diagnosis of sleep apnea must be made by a medical doctor from a home, unattended sleep study or more commonly from a sleep study done in a hospital or sleep clinic.
For patients with severe apnea, CPAP is the best option to keep the airway open and improve quantity and quality of life.
For mild or moderate sleep apnea as well as snoring, dental devices similar to a retainer often correct the problem.
Wearing a mouthpiece at night can improve oxygen levels, and improve the overall health of the patient.
Without the disturbing noise of snoring as well as improving health, relationships can benefit as well.
Snoring should never be dismissed without further investigation.
