Signs Your Snoring Might Be Dangerous 

Noisy snoring is often a plot device used to initiate strife between new couples. While it is played up for laughs, snoring may be a dangerous sign of a more troubling condition. Snoring isn’t just a distraction, and it doesn’t just impact partners sharing a bedroom. Snoring can dramatically impact a person’s health and the quality of their sleep.

At Silent Night Therapy, we want to help shed light on the often-overlooked dangerous impacts of snoring and what you can do to get a better night’s rest.

What Is Snoring?

Snoring is the loud, hoarse, or harsh sound of air causing tissues in the throat to vibrate. When the air a person breathes passes over these relaxed tissues, the vibration makes an audible sound. At some point in life, almost everyone will snore. Allergies, colds, and congestion can cause acute bouts of snoring. Chronic snoring, however, can be a sign of a more serious health condition.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is one condition that can cause excessive or persistent snoring. The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea. In obstructive sleep apnea, an individual will stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night. In people with obstructive sleep apnea, breathing is typically disrupted by a complete or partial blockage of the throat. Relaxed soft tissue is generally the source of this blockage. The disruption in breathing can wake a person up, cause them to gasp or choke, and prevent them from getting a full and restful night’s sleep.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring is often one of the most prominent symptoms of sleep apnea. Loud and chronic snoring that seems to have no other apparent cause can sometimes be attributed to some form of sleep apnea. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Gasping or choking at night
• Dry mouth the following morning
• Sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Changes in mood or irritability
• Nighttime sweating
• Fatigue
• Daytime drowsiness
• Difficulty concentrating

Individuals who are overweight, smoke, or are over the age of 50 tend to be at an increased risk of developing sleep apnea. However, it is a condition that can impact anyone.

Sleep apnea is a significant medical condition. Sleep apnea can impact the quality of a person’s sleep, dramatically impacting their ability to function. Studies have linked sleep apnea to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep apnea can also exacerbate heart conditions and may lead to an increased risk of a heart attack.

Snoring and Oral Appliances

You or your partner don’t have to live with snoring and sleep apnea. There are several ways to treat the condition, and an oral appliance may be a solution worth looking into. An oral appliance is worn inside the mouth, almost like a mouthguard for sports, but is much more comfortable. These devices are custom-fitted and help re-align the jaw and tongue. When fitted and worn properly, the device helps keep the upper airway open and free from obstruction. This allows air to flow more freely, preventing snoring and treating sleep apnea.

Schedule a Sleep Consultation

Constantly waking up feeling like you didn’t get enough sleep? Do you snore or have a partner that complains about your snoring? Get in touch with a sleep professional at Silent Night Therapy and schedule your own sleep consultation.

At Silent Night Therapy, we can help diagnose and treat your underlying sleep issues. If you are ready to get the best sleep of your life, contact our office online today or call us at 631-983-2463 to schedule your sleep consultation.