The negative effects on snoring on the body occurs in a number of sleepers. Often, it is nothing to cause concern and people simply learn to live with it. Snoring happens when the airway somehow becomes blocked and air that is forced through an obstructed space causes vibrations creating a snoring sound. For many, snoring is not a serious problem and some may not even know that they snore at all. However, there are some serious effects of snoring that people should be aware of and should be treated.
What Are the Effects of Snoring On Your Lifestyle?
- Bothersome - While this is not necessarily one of the critical health effects of snoring, being bothersome to fellow sleepers is a problem. Many people who sleep with or near snorers complain that it disrupts their sleep. Because of this, people who are subjected to others that snore often have the same effects of drowsiness and irritability. Sometimes, snoring can even cause more disturbances to others rather than the person who is actually snoring. Relationships can be affected if one partner snores this prevents the other person from sleeping well.
- Exhaustion - Snoring can cause people to experience exhaustion even if they have had a full night’s sleep. The reason for this is that your breathing may be irregular while you snore, causing your body to stress out and work harder. Exhaustion can make you less alert at work or school. It can lower your response time, which can be dangerous in certain situations. Also, excessive exhaustion can make you more susceptible to illnesses. Sleeping well is certainly an important factor in maintaining your health. This is one of the more serious effects of snoring on the body for it can cause mistakes at work and accidents while driving.
- Sleep Apnea - Sleep apnea can be one of the health effects of snoring on the body that should be treated by a medical professional. Sometimes snoring can actually cause sleep apnea. Obstructed sleep apnea occurs when there is a blockage in the airway which creates irregular breathing. This can also cause people to wake often as they sleep because the brain is not getting adequate oxygen. Sleep apnea can create many very serious health problems.
- High Blood Pressure - Sleep apnea caused by snoring can also cause other health issues that can be very dangerous. High blood pressure can occur because of the drop in oxygen levels. Headaches, muscle tension, and drowsiness can all be attributed to sleep apnea as well. If you experience these problems over a period of time, sleep apnea may be the culprit.
- Serious Health Risks - Other effects of snoring can be much more serious. Sleep apnea that is brought on by snoring can lead to heart problems or even stroke. Both conditions are brought on by inadequate supplies of oxygen over a period of time. It is very important to have your sleeping patterns checked out if you suspect that you have sleep apnea.
- Options - Not all people that snore will experience these effects of snoring on the body. However, it is important to make sure that your snoring is not being brought on by something serious. For some people, snoring is an indication of a possible health concern. You should consider some of the easier options of stopping snoring such as changing sleeping position, reducing alcohol intake, eating healthy or nasal strips. If none of these things help, you may want to consider being medically evaluated to rule out serious problems.