Snoring is no laughing matter

Does your snoring keep others up at night? Or does someone that you know
snore incessantly and too loudly for you to go to sleep? People who
snore are often ridiculed but it is not to be taken lightly. Snoring is a
warning sign of other problems and can cause harm if not treated.

Why do people snore?

• Due to weak muscle tone of the tongue and throat
• This causes the tongue to fall backwards into the airway
• It may cause throat muscles to draw in from the sides into the airway
• Bulkiness of throat tissue or narrowing of airway
• Due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids
• Obesity
• Cysts or tumours
• Long soft palate or uvula
• This narrows opening from nose to throat
• Causes vibration of lengthy palate or uvula
• Obstructed nasal airways
• Blocked nose
• Deformities of nose or septum
• Common conditions snorers might have

Obstructive sleep apnea

If a person suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, they have multiple
episodes of breathing pauses for more than 10 seconds at a time. This is
because the upper airway narrows or collapses. The body gets less
oxygen, and the lungs and heart have to work harder to take in oxygen.
Apnea patients may experience 30 to 300 such events per night.

Heart problems

Heart Disease

Snoring can be a warning of poor heart health and heart disease. If your
snoring is caused by obstruction of the airway, this means your heart
has to beat harder to take in oxygen.

Stroke

Intensity of snoring is related to carotid atherosclerosis which occurs when the arteries narrow due to plaque buildup.

Arrhythmias

People who have had a long history of snoring are more at risk to develop an irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD is a common problem with people
who suffer from sleep apnea.  This is because the throat is closed when
air moves in and out during sleep. This causes pressure that sucks
stomach contents back into the esophagus.

Headache and migraines

Snorers are more prone to headaches and migraines due to restless nights and not enough sleep.

So, instead of ridiculing snoring and snorers, pay attention and see that medical attention is given in time.