If you suffer with snoring you will know it is a very real and aggravating problem. It disturbs crucial sleeping patterns of both the person doing the snoring and his or her partner. This often leads to ongoing fatigue, irritability, loss of memory, depression and a lack of concentration when dealing with everyday life.
But more worryingly, snoring is often a symptom of a potentially serious health problem that is known by doctors and other medical professionals as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a disorder in which breathing is briefly and frequently interrupted throughout the sleeping process. During sleep the upper throat, tongue and jaw muscles relax and cause a complete or partial airway blockage. The subsequent lack of oxygen intake can last for up to thirty seconds and is repeated constantly throughout the night. When oxygen supply reaches critically low levels the brain uses impulses to wake the person so normal
conscious breathing can resume.
conscious breathing can resume.
Depriving the body of a sufficient supply of oxygen can lead to serious long-term health problems. According to the National Sleep Foundation, OSA is a potentially “life-threatening” disorder that effects over 18 million Americans. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons say the “risks of undiagnosed OSA include heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart disease and a decreased libido”. In addition, “OSA causes daytime drowsiness that can result in accidents, lost productivity and relationship problems.”
As the body gets older muscle tissues in the throat and mouth get weaker and begin to lose their tension, which means those over the age of 35 are at higher risk. In a recent study, The Whittier Institute for Diabetes found that diabetics are particularly prone to suffering with sleep apnea, with up to 33% having the condition.