While You Were SleepingTo sleep--perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub, For what if someone (or something) terrible is waiting inside your closet, or lying under your bed, or kneeling on your chest?
If you snore, you may be embarrassed about it or reluctant to look into bulky CPAP masks as a means to prevent breathing problems. The health risks associated with snoring are serious, though, and it's important to find out whether you're just snoring or if you have sleep apnea. Likewise, if you're sleeping next to someone who snores, you may be motivated to help them regulate their night-time breathing. Health risks associated with sleep apnea - or even light snoring - should be a wake-up call to seek help for yourself or a loved one.
Though sleep apnea and snoring are different things, both are disruptive to the snorer's sleep and those who have to listen to them. As to why you snore, it could be congestion, a deviated septum, or some other airway obstruction, which then leads to impeded breathing.
If you aren't sure if your snoring is sleep apnea, there are simple tests you can find online to determine what kind of snoring you're experiencing. Or you can get a sleep study done to ensure you have nothing to worry about, as even light snoring may be a cause for concern. Either way, there are simple things you can do to alleviate your snoring without medical intervention, like cutting back on drinking, losing weight, or even altering your sleeping position.
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock
Both Snoring And Sleep Apnea Can Indicate An Underlying Issue
Sleep apnea and snoring are different things. Sleep apnea is when you momentarily stop breathing or breathe slowly. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type and is the result of a blocked airway. If you have OSA, it's unlikely that you know it, though you may suspect you have sleeping issues if you're frequently fatigued during the day. Someone who sleeps in the same bed as you is sure to know if you gasp for air at night, though.
According to Huffington Post, snoring is usually caused by vibration - either by your uvula, palate, or tongue. Obstructions in the nasal area, like a deviated septum, can also cause snoring. If you snore, that doesn't mean you have sleep apnea - about 50% of adults snore, but only 1 in 15 have sleep apnea. It's also worth noting that someone with sleep apnea doesn't necessarily snore.
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Snoring Can Spur Cancerous Tumors
Interrupted sleep can lead to an influx of cancerous cells, it can make it harder for your body to combat cancer, and it can even make tumors grow faster. A group of immune system cells associated with tumors falls into two groups: M1 and M2. The former helps fight cancer, while the latter spurs tumor growth.
Your brain needs to rest, and if it doesn't get that rest, your memory may suffer. CBS News reports those who snore or have breathing problems while they sleep may develop dementia, a decline in cognitive abilities, or suffer from memory problems earlier than the average person.
Researchers looked at 2,500 people, ranging from those with normal brain function to those with Alzheimer's, and found that individuals with sleep apnea began experiencing cognitive issues about 10 years earlier than those without the disorder.
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There's A Connection Between Snoring And Artery Damage
People who snore are more likely to have thickened or abnormal carotid arteries compared to those who are overweight or smoke, according to Medical News Today. Carotid arteries are responsible for transporting oxygen to the head and neck.
Snoring causes inflammation, and inflammation can prompt these kinds of adverse changes in the carotid arteries.
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Not Treating Sleep Apnea Can Have Serious Repercussions
If you fail to treat sleep apnea, you're going to damage more than your relationship with the person sleeping next to you. According to CNN, untreated sleep apnea can worsen your nightmares, and if you have PTSD, your snoring can make that worse as well.
All of these can lead to poorer sleep quality. And while it may seem like being sleepy as a result of your sleep apnea is a relatively harmless consequence, that couldn't be further from the truth. The CDC reports sleepy people tend to get in more car accidents.
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Snoring Can Make You Gain Weight
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The same conundrum applies to weight gain and snoring, according to Dr. Donald M. Sesso. Being overweight can make snoring worse. Fat deposits may constrict your airway, making it harder to breathe.
Conversely, snoring can cause weight gain, or make it harder to lose weight. Ultimately, snoring messes with your metabolism. But snoring also makes you tired, and tired people are typically less active.
