Snoring isn’t a sign of age. It can be treated successfully.
Approximately 45% of adults snore occasionally. The Cleveland Clinic reports that 25% of adults are habitual snorers. Snoring is a sign that something is wrong. It could be as simple as your sleep position is making your body work too hard to breathe while you sleep or as serious as sleep apnea.
People joke about snoring, but habitual snoring is often a symptom of a serious medical condition. About 75% of the people who suffer from a snoring habit have underlying obstructive sleep apnea due to the disruption of their breathing for short periods while they sleep. This leads to an increased risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. It also leaves them to sleep deprived because the quality of their sleep isn’t as good, which increases the risk they will be involved in an accident.
Be cautious before self-treating snoring or sleep apnea with over-the-counter sprays or pills. Consult your doctor for treatment. While there are many snoring aids available in the market, quite a few of them don’t have scientific studies backing up their claims.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring occurs when the tissues of the throat are relaxed and vibrating as you breathe in while air rushes past them. Several conditions can contribute to snoring such as weight gain, lifestyle changes, mouth shapes, nasal shape, alcohol consumption, serious medical conditions, and many other factors.
If you do not achieve success treating yourself with self-help strategies and lifestyle changes, do not lose hope as there are multiple medical solutions that can help you reduce or eliminate snoring.
Consult an otolaryngologist or physician for their recommendation regarding surgery or appliances. The available medical treatment options for prevention of snoring include:
- CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: wearing a pressurized mask over the nose while asleep helps keep your airways open. This treatment option is usually recommended for obstructive sleep apnea. You will also get CPAP masks for side sleepers.
The following illustration shows some of the physical aspects of snoring.
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