Snoring itself is not a dangerous habit. On its own, it’s just a noise your throat makes while you’re sleeping because your airway has narrowed. When you relax during sleep, the muscles that normally hold up the back of your throat stop holding firm. In certain cases, this can lead to a collapse of the tissues during sleep, and when it becomes a disorder, it is called sleep apnea. If your snoring has become a frequent topic of conversation or a nagging worry, you may have sleep apnea. Here are some signs your snores may mean something a little more than the average annoyance.
Your Snores Lead to Gasps
If your snoring progresses to other sounds at night, you should take very serious note of this symptom. Snoring that leads to gasping, choking, or pausing in breath should be checked out by your dentist or a specialist. If you wake yourself or someone else up with the volume of your snoring, that is also a good indication something more serious is going on.
You Find it Hard to Sleep at Night
Insomnia is another symptom of sleep apnea. Waking yourself up constantly from the noise of snoring could be one correlation between the two. Another possible reason for insomnia would be the yo-yo in your blood-oxygen level due to your sporadically cut off air supply. This irregularity can affect your heart rate as well, making it more difficult to relax. When you find yourself startled awake repeatedly throughout the night, insomnia is can be an unfortunate a side-effect.
You Stay Tired All Day
Insomnia at night can lead to fatigue during the day. Sufferers of sleep apnea may find themselves unintentionally falling asleep while trying to complete other daily tasks. If you snore enough to be concerned, and any of these symptoms apply to you, it’s probably time to consult with your dentist about treatment options.
