Snoring Is Serious

It is not just a minor nuisance. It has many serious effects that make relief urgent.

annoyed woman lays with a pillow covering her ears while her husband snores next to her

It may be a sign of sleep apnea, when your breathing actually stops at night. Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly condition that contributes to many serious risks, from heart disease to car accidents. Snorers should be evaluated for sleep apnea before they decide on treatment.

Snoring can lead to atherosclerosis, hardened arteries caused by scarring of the blood vessels. Many researchers believe that the vibrations caused can create small cuts in the arteries, causing them to scar and harden. This can lead to partial clogging of the arteries, contributing to high blood pressure and increased stroke risk.

Snoring is also a sign that your airway is partly restricted during sleep. This means you’re getting less oxygen than you need when you sleep, leading to poor sleep quality. Your snoring can also awaken you many times during the night—even if you’re not aware of this. This puts you at risk for many health effects related to poor sleep.

And, of course, it doesn’t just impact you—it impacts others who live with you. Anyone who sleeps in the same bed or room with you is affected, but loud snoring can impact those who sleep in other rooms as well.

Snoring Causes and Treatments

There are many potential causes of snoring. You might investigate whether allergies and illness might be responsible for your intermittent or occasional snoring. You can try changing your sleep position so that you sleep on your side rather than on your back.

In many cases, though, snoring is related to a narrowing of your airway at night that is caused partly by your jaw. Your jaw is the primary support for your airway, and when your muscles relax at night, it becomes the only support. If your jaw isn’t in the right position, your airway will narrow or collapse. Putting your jaw in the right position will help hold your airway open.

If certain anatomical causes mean that repositioning the jaws isn’t enough to keep your airway open, surgery may be recommended, but surgery should be a last resort.leading dentists badge logo - Dr. Firouzian is an LVI trained neuromuscular dentist

If you want to learn whether snoring treatment in Columbus, OH can help you (and everyone in your house) sleep easier, please contact Firouzian Dentistry today.

Self Screening: Do You Have Problems Sleeping?

restless young man lays awake in bed in the middle of the night

The Harvard Sleep Apnea Questionnaire

This quick self-test is used to determine if you could be at risk for sleep apnea.