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The Consequences and Health Risks of Snoring

man and woman suffer from health risks of snoring

May is Better Sleep Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of sleep as an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. There has been no shortage of research about how many hours of sleep you should be getting each night to feel your best. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation recently released an updated report on the recommended sleep durations for each age group.

Along with serving as a “wake-up call” to get your head on the pillow a little earlier each night in order to get the restful, restorative sleep you need, Better Sleep Month also presents a good opportunity to raise awareness about the impact that snoring – a commonplace and seemingly innocuous habit – may be having on the quality of sleep and quality of life for both you and those who sleep around you.

What are the health risks of snoring?

Considering the millions of Americans who snore on a nightly basis and the millions more who snore occasionally, the mundane nature of snoring often colors it as an embarrassing or annoying habit more often than a dangerous one with health risks. But before you discount snoring as nothing out of the ordinary, it’s important to understand the health risks associated with this habit.

Chronic snoring is often a telltale sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep.

Snoring and sleep apnea can produce a host of health risks, including:

  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Memory loss
  • Workplace injuries
  • Drowsy driving
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Increased risk for heart attack and stroke

A frightening statistic about the grave nature of sleep apnea which should underline the importance of seeking treatment is that people whose snoring is caused by severe sleep apnea have around a 40% greater chance of dying earlier than their peers. While scary to think about, this makes sense given the numerous health risks of snoring and sleep apnea, like stroke and heart attack.

What are some other consequences of snoring?

Snoring can bring about more than just health problems, it can cause issues to arise in other areas of life such as work and relationships.

Snoring and its related health risks may cause consequences such as:

  • Relationship/marital troubles
  • Poor work performance
  • Reduced productivity
  • Negative impact on sex life
  • Sleeping in separate rooms from your partner
  • Family turmoil

For children, there are additional problems that can arise from snoring including:

  • Learning difficulty
  • Growth problems
  • ADHD
  • Poor school performance

How much is snoring impacting your life?

It’s not hard to see the many consequences and possible health risks of snoring. But if you’re still not convinced of the toll that snoring is taking on your life, take this short online quiz in order to evaluate your snoring intensity and level of risk for sleep apnea.

 

Click to see your level of risk for sleep apnea by taking the snore quiz

 

Address the health risks of snoring – receive snoring treatment in the Philadelphia area

There is no substitute for getting a good night’s sleep on a nightly basis. During Better Sleep Month, the dental sleep specialist at eos dental sleep urges you to schedule your consultation to see if you are a candidate for a non-invasive snoring and sleep apnea treatment that will allow you to sleep soundly without all the sound.

Don’t suffer through another day of excessive sleepiness, headaches and trouble concentrating. Remember that snoring is more than a bedtime nuisance – it is linked to numerous health risks and often a sign of sleep apnea.

Make an appointment today to start sleeping better and living better tomorrow. Your body will thank you – and so will your bed partner!