Snoring Could Be Linked to Sleep Apnea
If you are a snorer, you need to be tested for sleep apnea. Snoring is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea, a serious, potentially deadly condition. In fact, studies show that people with sleep apnea are 5-6 times more likely to die from any cause, including heart disease, cancer, dementia, and deadly car accidents. Read more about the dangers of sleep apnea to understand why you should be tested for the condition.
Snoring Leads to Hardened Arteries
Independent of sleep apnea, snoring can be linked to serious cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis, hardened arteries.
Snoring is the sound of your tissues vibrating, usually in the throat. These vibrations aren’t harmless. They cause tiny injuries in the carotid arteriesーthe large arteries in the neck that supply the brain’s huge need for food and oxygen. As these injuries scar over, it thickens the arterial walls. The scars also provide rough patches that help deposits of fat to start and grow.
Later, these deposits can break free. They travel to the narrow blood vessels of the brain and get lodged there, blocking the blood supply. This is a stroke.
You’re Not Sleeping Peacefully When You Snore
One complaint we often hear from a snorer’s partner is that they hate being awake while the snorer sleeps peacefully. This is an illusion. The snore you hear is the body struggling to breathe. When a person is snoring, their body is not getting enough oxygen, and this leads to low-quality sleep.
People who snore are more likely to doze off while driving. They have an increased risk of workplace accidents due to inattention. And they can make poor choices during the day because their brain is tired.
Snoring Leads to Conflict at Home
Another risk associated with snoring is fights and conflict at home. On the surface, the conflicts might be about anything一money, work, kids, sex, etcーbut underneath the true source is snoring.
When one person is a snorer, neither they nor their cosleeper are getting good sleep. This makes it hard for them to empathize and work together to find good solutions to any problem. Fights escalate.
Snoring is a leading cause of divorce, and it’s also a common source of domestic violence, leading to beatings, stabbings, and shootings. You might not think this is a risk for you, but people become increasingly irrational when they’re not getting enough sleep and sometimes things spiral out of control.
Protect Yourself and Your Home from Snoring
If you are a snorer, it’s important to get effective snoring treatment to head off these and other dangers linked to snoring. Dr. Mike is here to help you find a treatment that’s right for you. Please call (614) 683-4640 today for a free virtual or in-person consultation at Firouzian Sleep Wellness in Columbus, OH.