Are you a snorer? Do your partner’s complaints bother you? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone in this. Snoring is a very common occurrence among people with nearly 50% of adults prone to the problem.
It also has a higher reported rate of occurrence among men as compared to women.
Primary snorer
Most likely, you are a primary snorer – a person with a snoring problem only and no other complications. But, there are also chances that you suffer from a serious ailment known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) that your airway collapses completely or partially multiple times a night when you sleep, and causes you to stop breathing for ten seconds or more at a time.
Yes, it is indeed as scary a condition as it sounds and so you must see a physician if you have had a persistent snoring problem for a long time.
On the other hand, primary snoring, though not as severe an ailment, also has its own repercussions. Repeated interruptions to your sleep cycle can cause havoc to your metabolic system, make you irritable throughout the day and severely hamper productivity.
The snoring problems can be easily dealt with. But there exist several myth surrounding snoring that need to be busted before you can get to the heart of the matter. So read on, to find out.
Myth: It’s normal to snore, everyone does it
Fact: Terming snoring as an insignificant problem not only trivialises, but makes you vulnerable to other diseases. It is the first major sign that your body is struggling to breathe when you are sleeping.
Regular snoring is often a result of undiagnosed hypertension which can lead to cardiovascular complications. Since snoring also affects your sleep quality, it disrupts the body’s metabolic cycle and hampers hormone secretion thus leading to weight gain and other problems.
Myth: When you snore, it is solely your problem
Fact: It is an utter misconception that you affect only your own health or sleep when you snore. An average snorer produces sounds in the range of 60 decibels – as much noise as a vacuum cleaner – while in severe cases it can be as high as 80 to 90 decibels equaling the level of noise produced in a factory unit.
Imagine how troublesome it must be for someone sleeping beside you. In fact, studies have shown that partners of snorers have gone on to have high blood pressure and other complications on account of this.
A congested or stuffy nose aggravates snoring. So if I clear my nose, I won’t snore
Fact: While nasal congestion definitely contributes to a snoring problem, it is almost never the sole cause behind snoring. Doctors say an existing snoring problem is cured in just about 10% of patients who undergo nose surgeries. Complicated functions of the soft palate, nose and tongue leads to snoring; it is not a problem to be overlooked.
If you snore, it means you are in deep sleep
Fact: This misconception is fueled by the fact that many snorers are not awakened by the sound of their own snores, while those around them can barely sleep. While it’s true that most people snore during the deepest stage of their sleep cycle, it is a proven fact that snoring affects the quality of sleep they manage to get.
It often leads to a dip in the overall sleep quality which affects your health, causes you to be irritable throughout the day and makes your productivity dip.
Once a snorer, always a snorer. Snoring cannot be treated.
Fact: You are absolutely wrong on this one! Snoring is a manageable problem that can be effectively cured. If you are a mild snorer, there are several anti-snoring devices and medications available over the counter that can help you sleep better.
But if it is a more complicated problem, medical intervention can definitely rectify it. See a physician who will prescribe proper drugs or if need be suggest alternate options like surgery.
While most people are likely to joke about snoring or a snorer, do not take it lightly if you are facing a problem. Seek help, see a doctor, get yourself diagnosed, follow instructions and then, sleep better!
