How to Determine If You’re A Routine Snorer
Snoring is associated with a higher risk of developing different health issues, but it can be hard to determine if you’re a snorer. How can you tell if you have a chronic snoring problem or an occasional one, such as when you’re sick? Learn more about how you can find out if you’re a snorer and what to do about it.
What are Symptoms of a Snoring Problem?
The sound of snoring is an obvious sign that you’re a snorer, but you can’t tell whether or not you do it since you’re asleep. A partner or family member can let you know if you snore on a regular basis. However, there are also other signs that might indicate that you have a snoring problem. Snoring can occur along with obstructive sleep apnea, which is a sleep disorder where you suddenly stop breathing during sleep. If snoring is part of this disorder, you might notice certain symptoms, such as the following:
- Fatigue during the day
- Headaches as soon as you wake up
- Sore throat when you wake up
- Restless during the night
- Chest pain at night
- Trouble focusing
- Gasping or trouble breathing during the night
What are Causes of Snoring?
You might snore for short periods of time when you have a cold or other illness that causes nasal congestion. If you’re a chronic snorer, this can occur due to different causes. You might end up snoring on a regular basis if you have a smaller/narrow airway or if you have extra tissue in your throat. Snoring can also become a problem if you have chronic nasal problems or if you sleep on your back. Your risk of snoring frequently is also higher if you’re overweight or have a family history of chronic snoring or sleep apnea.
How to Avoid Snoring
The good news is that there are many things you can do to stop snoring. Some of these involve making lifestyle changes, such as the following:
- Losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing chronic sinus or nasal problems
- Getting enough sleep
- Not drinking alcohol before going to bed
- Sleeping on your side rather than on your back
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to stop snoring, you might need to look into other forms of treatment. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are one option, but not everyone can use them comfortably. If you’re not a good candidate for a CPAP machine, oral appliance therapy is another solution. This type of therapy involves wearing an oral appliance that help ensure that your airway remains open while you sleep.
Are There Dangers of Snoring?
Snoring from time to time generally isn’t a problem, yet chronic snoring can raise your risk of having certain health issues. Since some of these health problems are serious, it’s important to take steps toward preventing snoring from occurring. Some of the complications you might develop when you’re a chronic snorer include the following:
- Excessive drowsiness during the day, that can increase your risk of being in a car accident or making errors at work
- Increased risk of having high blood pressure, stroke, or heart problems
- Trouble focusing, making decisions, and concentrating
- Moodiness or anger due to poor sleep quality
If you snore on a regular basis, contact eos dental to set up an appointment. We can help you reduce snoring with the use of an oral appliance, so you can enjoy better sleep quality and a lower risk of health problems.