Snoring can be annoying or embarrassing, depending on the circumstances, but it can also be dangerous to one’s health. More and more doctors are advising their patients that it is important that they stop snoring.
Sleep apnea, one of the most serious sleep disorders, places the person that is snoring at risk for early death. An individual with sleep apnea can experience sudden drops in his or her levels of blood oxygen which can result in a strained cardiovascular system. This can lead to heart attacks and strokes. This is especially true of those that suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Even less extreme types of snoring can be related to heart disease, lowered sexual function and a host of other significant problems. The lack of oxygen in the blood can also be a causitve factor in chronic headaches.
Snoring does not just effect the person that snores. The sleeping partners of people that snore can also suffer adverse effects from their partners’ sleep disorders. Staying awake at night can result in an increased number of accidents, problems with concentration, heart failure, stroke, diabetes and an entire array of other health and safety issues. Lack of sleep can also rapidly kill one’s sex drive.
CPAP machines, which deliver constant positive airway pressure, are commonly prescribed snoring remedies, but they do not work for everyone. Each patient is different. When this is the case, alternate solutions must be devised to help patients stop snoring before their health is seriously damaged. One such solution is a mouth appliance called the Mandibular Advancement Device. This device is flexible, easy to use, adjustable and is quite effective. People with mild or mild to moderate sleep apnea are often prescribed the Mandubular Advancement Device because it is much easier to get used to than a CPAP machine.
If you or a loved one snores frequently, please don’t ignore the warning signs of a potentially dangerous condition of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Call your dentist or doctor and they will refer you to the appropriate Sleep Physician who can guide you through a few easy tests to determine if there is anything to worry about. Call Today!
