Snoring can affect your life as well as the loved ones around you. It is no wonder that people who snore feel the impact of their snoring. Whether it is through the kicks that jolt you awake during the night or the glares that come from your partner the next morning, snorers experience their fair share of consequences for their ‘actions.’ Now what you may not know are the many different ways that snoring can have an impact on your life outside the bedroom.
Snoring Could Be Taking A Toll On Your Relationship
Although it may seem this way, the distress your partner experiences when you snore, is anything but temporary. According to a Mayo Clinic study, the spouses of snorers wake up approximately 21 times every hour due to their partner’s snoring. This sleep loss then leads to increased irritability and can easily build up into resentment over time. In fact, plenty of studies have shown that couples where one partner snores experience higher dissatisfaction in the relationship. Whether it is because of the lack of sleep or the lack of intimacy due to sleeping in separate beds, it is undeniable that snoring can have an impact on relationships both in and out of the bedroom.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring happens when the airflow through the mouth and nose is physically blocked. Airflow can get obstructed by a combination of factors, including:
Obstructed nasal airways: Some people snore only during allergy seasons or whenever they have a sinus infection. Disfigurements of the nose such as a deviated septum (a structural change in the wall that divides one nostril from the other) or nasal polyps can also cause obstruction.
Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue: Throat and tongue muscles can be too relaxed, which allows them to drop and fall back into the airway. It can result from a deep sleep, alcohol consumption, or use of some sleeping pills. Normal aging causes further relaxation of these muscles.
Bulky throat tissue: Being overweight can cause fat throat tissue. Also, children with large tonsils and adenoids frequently snore.
Long soft palate and uvula: A long soft palate or a long uvula (the dangling tissue in the back of the mouth) can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat. When these structures vibrate and bump against one another, the airway becomes obstructed, causing snoring.
How Snoring Is Affecting Your Health?
Besides affecting the health of your relationship, snoring can influence both your physical and mental well-being. Snoring has the potential to create chaos with your sleep cycle, stopping you from drifting into a deep sleep, and resulting in sleep deprivation. It is essential to note that many people who snore suffer from more severe medical conditions such as sleep apnea which can, later on, lead to worst issues like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Snoring has a tendency to worsen with age.
The Main Health Risks Associated With Snoring Are:
Chronic snorers can be in danger of serious health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea creates several issues, including:
Disruptions of breathing (lasting a few seconds or even minutes) during sleep generated by partial or total obstruction or blockage of the airway.
Frequently waking from sleep, even though you may not notice it.
Light sleeping. Waking up so many times a night interferes with the typical pattern of sleep producing more time spent in light sleep than in restorative, deeper sleep.
Strain on the heart. Extended suffering from obstructive sleep apnea often results in higher blood pressure and may cause enlargement of the heart, with greater risks of heart attack and stroke.
Poor night’s sleep. Leading to drowsiness during the day and interference with your quality of life, increasing the risk of car accidents.
Therefore, snoring is far more than just a bedroom annoyance. It is a dangerous issue that affects relationships, health and overall quality of life. You can stop snoring today.