What is snoring?
Snoring occurs when turbulent air flows through the airway, causing the soft tissues such as the tongue, tonsils, uvula and soft palate to vibrate – this results in the snoring noise. In some cases, the sound may be soft, but in most cases, it can be loud, unpleasant and disruptive to both the snorer and the sleepingpartner.
Snoring may seem like a relatively minor problem – it’s easy to treat it as more of an annoyance than an issue to be fixed – but it can cause some very real obstacles to getting on with day to day life. It’s for that reason that from the 18th to the 22nd of April, is National Stop Snoring Week – to make people aware of the problems associated with snoring, and to show that snoring treatment is an option.
First of all, and most obviously, snoring can interrupt sleep. That means that if you snore, you and the people around you are more likely to experience the effects of sleep deprivation, from simply feeling sluggish, to causing a lack of concentration that can be a real hazard to others when, for example, you’re driving or operating heavy machinery. Snoring is also linked to Sleep Apnoea, a serious condition that interrupts breathing during sleep. This can result in high blood pressure, and in serious cases, strokes and heart attacks. If you’re male, overweight and over the age of 40, then you’re statistically at a higher risk of suffering from Sleep Apnoea.
What is sleep apnoea?
Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the airway is briefly and repeatedly constricted and breathing stops during sleep. The blood oxygen levels reduce; the brain then sends out an emergency signal causing a deep gasping breath. This can happen many times each hour and leads to daytime sleepiness and headaches and over time can severely damageoverallhealth.
UntreatedSnoring
Snoring is known to be a chronic condition, but not always taken seriously. In the longterm, snoring can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease and dementia. It can be a major factor in sleep disturbance, leading to lack of energy, poor concentration, mood swings and irritability. Snoring also puts a serious strain on relationships. It often results in expulsion of the snorer to a separate bedroom or the sofa, which can lead to a build-up of resentment over time.
Untreated Sleep Apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a serious medical condition that has been linked to an increased risk of stroke, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and arrhythmias.If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea you are 30% more likely to have a heart attack or die prematurely. The condition has also been linked to memory loss and brain damage. In some cases, sleep apnoea results in death during sleep, from asphyxiation. Some specialists have surmised that left untreated sleep apnoea can reduce somebody ‘ s life expectancy by as much as 20years.
Treatment Options
The good news is that these issues are all treatable. Snoring treatment using the Somnowell appliance is a simple but effective method of keeping a clear airway while you sleep, avoiding both the annoyance and the health risks associated with snoring. We’re proud to offer this treatment at our surgery in Droitwich Spa. What better time than National Stop Snoring Week to pop in and get snoring treatment to improve your quality of life?
Our friendly staff will be more than happy to book you in for an appointment and get you on your way to a better, healthier night’s sleep. For information on using the Somnowell appliance for snoring treatment, get in touch with us here!