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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Rashmi Parmar, DMD, D-ABDSM
Snoring and Sleep Apnea: The Not So Silent Killer
Sleep Better Maryland
. https://sleepbettermaryland.com/

Snoring and Sleep Apnea: The Not So Silent Killer

Snoring and Sleep Apnea: The Not So Silent Killer

Do you snore? Do you wake up gasping for air? Are you tired and even fatigued all day? If you answered yes to these questions, you might have what is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA.

When you are asleep, the muscles that control your tongue and soft palate work together to hold the airway open. If those muscles relax and fall back into the airway, they will partially obstruct or hinder air from passing by. When the air passes over the relaxed tissue when you breathe, it makes a fluttering sound that we have come to know as “snoring.”

Snoring Is Nature’s Alarm Bell…Are You Listening?

We have often laughed at people who snore loudly and make strange noises, but the fact is that their snoring is one of the first signs of sleep apnea. It should never be ignored simply because sleep apnea can lead to death.

The lack of oxygen brought on by sleep apnea leads to several debilitating conditions. Sleep apnea contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stroke and more.

Many patients struggle with chronic issues brought on by this condition and never know it. Physicians end up prescribing medications that only treat the symptoms and never the root cause.

Your body is designed to heal itself during sleep and if you don’t get the sleep you need and your body is deprived of oxygen, you body’s ability to heal and restore itself is hindered.

Who Snores?

Snoring is a very common problem in nearly half of all men and about one-third of all women. It can put a strain on your relationship with your spouse forcing them to lose sleep at night or even forcing the snorer to sleep in another room.

Not everyone who has sleep apnea snores and not every person who snores has sleep apnea. The biggest sign that you might have sleep apnea is how you feel during the day. You may feel fatigued…extremely tired…or have a hard time concentrating.

Snoring and Your Relationships

A common issue brought on by sleep apnea is that one spouse or the other has to move to another room or the couch. Who likes that?

Chances are if you snore you have been elbowed in the ribs by your partner. All of this leads to stress in the relationship.

If you snore loudly and feel you might have sleep apnea, the first thing you must do is get a sleep study done and get a diagnosis from a certified sleep doctor. If you need help in taking the next step to getting a restful and restorative night sleep, call a sleep specialist to schedule an appointment. You will be glad you did.

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