Snoring is a pretty common occurrence. According to research published in the Scientific American, 44% of all men and 28% of all women in the United States have a chronic snoring problem. However, it seems like most people still don’t know much about it.
All of us know that snoring is a pretty loud disturbance that happens while we sleep, but that’s all people know. That’s why we decided to write this article. By reading on, you’ll discover what exactly is snoring, what causes it, plus you’ll find out three things you probably didn’t know about it.
For Starters: What’s Snoring?
Basically, snoring is the noise by the vibrations at the back of your throat during the night. Those vibrations happen when a certain obstacle is blocking the airflow. Now, the airflow blockage happens due to a number of factors:
- Weak throat muscles
- Enlarged throat tissue
- Swollen tongue
- Relaxed mouth roof
Even if you never had snoring problems in your life, chances are, it will happen at some point in your life. You see, the muscles in your throat become more relaxed as you age. When they become relaxed enough, they will start vibrating.
Three Surprising Facts about Snoring
Even though it’s possible to live with snoring without feeling any bigger consequences, in certain cases, snoring can lead to a number of problems, for example…
1. Snoring can affect your marriage
A surprising number of married couples starts sleeping in separate rooms due to snoring. A large percentage of people reports that snoring has had a huge effect on the quality of their relationship. This, of course, can ruin the couple’s sex life and damage the relationship beyond repair. But the worst thing about it is that in extreme cases, snoring can even lead to a divorce. If you or your partner are experiencing chronic snoring issues, it’s advisable to consult a snoring doctor to address any underlying causes and explore potential solutions for a quieter, more restful sleep.
2. It can also cause chronic headaches
People who have frequent headaches know that lack of sleep is usually responsible for their medical problems. After all, chronic headaches have been associated with sleep disorders for decades at this point. Recent research has also shown that people who have snoring problems are far more likely to have headaches during the day than the ones who don’t…
3. High blood pressure is also a possibility
Chronic snorers often develop OSA – more commonly known as sleep apnea – and this disease is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular problems like strokes and heart attacks. People who suffer from sleep apnea usually have a high blood pressure, when compared to an average person.That’s why early treatment of sleep apnea is very important
Bonus: What’s the Best Anti-Snoring Solution?
Most causes of snoring can be found in someone’s everyday life. That means, getting rid of snoring isn’t all that hard. Here are a couple of easy treatments you can try on your own:
- You can lose a few pounds to get rid of fat tissue around your neck
- You can stop drinking alcohol before bed because it loosens up your muscles
- You can quit smoking because tar inside cigarettes can be blocking your airway
Of course, changing your habits is easier said than done. If you’re a person who thinks you’ll nor be able to change your habits, there are other things that could help you. For instance, there are nasal strips that can open your airway passage and allow you to breathe easier while you sleep.
Some people snore loudly because of allergies, which swell their nasal passages. In that case, a simple nasal spray will help you. If everything else fails, try using a snoring mouthpiece like Snorerx that moves your jaw forward while you’re sleeping and prevent those vibrations that cause you to snore.
Final Thoughts on Snoring
Now that you know some of the basic – and some more surprising – facts about snoring, you’ll fully aware of the risks associated with it. So if your partner starts complaining about you snoring or you notice anyone close to you started snoring louder than usual, you should definitely visit a physician.
With that, we’re finally done. If you have any additional questions about snoring or if you feel like we missed something important, feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us.
