Is Snoring A Sign Of Bigger Problems?

Many people who snore believe that it is something that they naturally do. They know that it is annoying to the people around them and that it is very disruptive at time. But did you know that it could be a sign of something more? Research shows that people who snore could have sleep apnea or even insomnia.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious medical disorder that causes a person to stop breathing throughout the night when they are asleep. People who suffer from this usually snore very loudly and feel exhausted even after a full night of sleep. There are two types of sleep apnea; central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form and occurs when the throat muscles are relaxed. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain is not being able to send off the right signals to muscles that are used to control your breathing. When people suffer from both it is referred to as complex sleep apnea.

It is important that you speak with your doctor if you believe that you might have sleep apnea. Other symptoms that you will recognize include:

  • Excessive tiredness in the daytime
  • Loud snoring
  • Stop breathing during sleep
  • Wake up suddenly short of breath
  • Wake up with dry mouth
  • Wake up with sore throat
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Have trouble staying asleep

Insomnia

Snoring is not only a sign of sleep apnea but also insomnia – which is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea. People with this condition will have trouble falling asleep and will also have a hard time staying asleep. When you wake up in the morning you will feel like you did not get any sleep. This will affect your daily life and make it hard for you to function. The majority of adults need between seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

There are things that you are able to do that will help to fight this condition. It is important to sit down with your doctor and discuss these methods if you think you have this problem. Other common symptoms of insomnia include:

  • Waking during the night
  • Waking up too early
  • Fatigue and anxiety in daytime
  • Depression and irritability
  • Trouble staying focused
  • Tension headaches
  • Gastrointestinal problems