10 Health Risks of Snoring That Are Shortening Your Life

This seemingly uncontrollable habit, is an annoyance that affects our lives in more ways than one. Its the little imperfection that some women even consider a deal-breaker in relationships? I am talking about none other than the dreaded snore. Obviously if your woman is going to leave you for this small nasal problem than you’re with the wrong gal, but the condition of snoring may actually cause greater problems than you think, especially concerning your health.

In general, snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is physically obstructed. This could be due to obstructions in the nasal airway, poor muscle tone in the throat, or bulky throat tissue. Whatever the reason, continual problems with snoring may cause major health side effects if left untreated.

So Why Is A Little Noise So Hazardous?

1. Irregular Breathing Patterns

Long interruptions of breathing may cause problems with cardiovascular health as you age. Interrupted breathing of more than 10 seconds during sleep could eventually block airways, causing wheezing, asthma, respiratory disease, and many other breathing complications.

2. Bad Sleeping / Drowsiness

If you’re feeling tired throughout the day, you could be suffering from insomnia or frequent loss in R.E.M. sleep. Deep sleep is the most important part of the sleeping cycle, and rapid eye movement occurs during this stage. When you struggle with extensive snoring, your body is unable to exercise normal breathing and sleep apnea may occur.

3. Possible Stroke

Studies have shown that intense snoring is directly related to the risk of carotid atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of arteries in the neck. The resulting side effect is a stroke if your body is not able to receive enough oxygen to maintain regular blood flow throughout the body. This will result in high blood pressure and over-working of the heart and lungs.

4. Heart Disease

As I stated above, snoring causes a lack of oxygen consumption within the body, which requires the heart to work harder in producing regular blood flow and basic functionality. High blood pressure leads to heart disease and various sleeping disorders. If you’re struggling with intensive snoring, you may want to see a doctor before it becomes a major risk.

5. Depression, Sleep Deprivation, and Mental Health Issues

The lack of oxygen causes problems everywhere in the human body because oxygen is such a vital part of our existence. With the lack of oxygen, human beings struggle to concentrate, function properly, and sleep soundly. Lack of R.E.M. sleep causes depression and extra stress on the body because your physical form is contracting instead of relaxing during unconsciousness. Without proper oxygen, the body will develop excess stress leading to anxiety and depression if left untreated.

6. Simple Headaches Lower Quality of Life

Even snorers with minimal nasal congestion still show signs of morning headaches. Habitual snorers often wake up every morning with headaches, which lead to a lower quality of energy and concentration – many of these same snorers state that they suffer from depression.

7. You’re Gaining Weight With Every Snore

Statistics show that over half of over-weight people also have sleep apnea. As we already know, sleep apnea can be caused by intensive snoring. If you’re struggling from snoring you may be subjected to possible weight gain from a lack of quality R.E.M. sleep. The good news is that losing weight does improve symptoms related to sleep disorders and may help with your nasal congestion and snoring.

8. Losses in Sexual Appetite

All of the previous problems associated with snoring have been correlations to the individual with the actual snoring problem. What about the partner or spouse? Studies have shown that spouses of older men with snoring problems are intimately turned-off when it comes to the bedroom scene. Many partners are so affected by their significant others snoring that they don’t have a desire for intimate relations – talk about a way to ruin the mood.

9. Nocturia

If you’re waking up two or more times a night as a result of snoring than you may have nocturia, which is the inability to sleep due to excessive urination. The loss of bladder control, as some scientists have speculated, may be linked to snoring.

10. Increase for Physical Injury

A person who does not sleep well loses the ability to perform tasks as usual. Snoring will cause sleep deprivation, and as a result, may cause physical injuries during the day due to drowsiness.