Exploring the Complexities of Snoring: Causes, Effects, and Treatment
I used to think snoring is as a result of physical stress not until I started reading extensively on it.
I remember how some people told me that they snore only when they are stressed out or exhausted while other people who snore every other day do not know why it happens.
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I have a sister whom I share a room with.
She used to snore a lot and that drives me nuts as it keeps me awake all night when I am supposed to lay my head and rest in preparation for the next day.
Even when she had not done anything stressful or overworked herself, she would snore.
The rise and fall sounds that come from her snores are enough to get an unconscious person up on their feet.
I would try to wake her up at intervals hoping it would stop but it only got louder.
After going through a period of waking her up to change her sleeping position each time she snores, she got better and the snores reduced till she finally stopped snoring altogether.
Didn't know if waking her up to change positions was what actually helped or maybe we got lucky somehow.
After everything, her snoring phase ended and we became happily ever after. Lol.
My sister's case eventually made me look up snoring, its causes and what could be done to treat it.
It was in the course of my research that I found out that there's more to snoring than the basic knowledge I used to have of it.
I found out that when you snore, you do not get a sound sleep which results in an increased level of stress hormones which is known as cortisol.
You know, snoring could either be habitual or occasional.
It is also not considered a medical condition but could be a pointer to an underlying health issue such as sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects or disrupts one's breathing during sleep.
When this happens, a person experiences pauses in breathing and a blocked airway.
These things are responsible for the sounds you hear when someone snores around you.
Sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases and even stroke if not treated or left unattended.
When you snore, you tend to wake up very weak as a result of disrupted sleep. It might even affect your mood for the day.
While researching, I found out that snoring could also be responsible for erectile dysfunction.
You begin to experience decreased oxygen levels in the blood which could hurt how you function sexually.
Other factors like age, weight and gender could also be responsible.
It is said that men are more likely to snore than women.
Also, people who are obese are likely to snore due to accumulated fatty tissue around the neck which could obstruct airflow.
Finally, snoring may be improved with lifestyle changes but it is best to seek the help of a healthcare practitioner for proper evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment as it is not one-size-fits-all.
It varies from person to person.