Snoring, a seemingly common phenomenon, can actually be a major hidden danger to sleep health. Many people mistakenly think that snoring is a sign of deep sleep, however, severe snoring, medically known as "obstructive sleep apnea syndrome."
obstructive sleep apnea (osa), which can have a serious impact on sleep quality and overall health. Let's demystify the effects of snoring on sleep.
Snoring usually occurs after people fall asleep, when the muscles of the larynx and upper airway relax, causing the airways to narrow and vibrate as the airflow passes, resulting in a snoring sound. If the airway collapses badly, or even completely, it can pause in breathing, which then opens up again, and violent breathing action ensues, which is called "sleep apnea."
Sleep disruption: Apnea caused by snoring can lead to disruption of sleep continuity, repeated awakenings from deep sleep, and deprivation of adequate deep sleep and rem sleep, both stages of sleep that are essential for physical recovery and brain function.
Daytime fatigue: Due to the poor quality of sleep at night, snorers often feel extremely tired and sleepy during the day, have difficulty concentrating, and have reduced work efficiency.
Other health problems: Long-term snoring with sleep apnea can also increase the risk of many chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc., and can also have negative effects on mental health, such as irritability, depression, etc.
For snoring interventions, the severity of snoring should be first identified and, if necessary, professional medical help should be sought. Your doctor may recommend polysomnography to determine if you have sleep apnea. This includes, but is not limited to, lifestyle modifications (e.g., abstinence from alcohol, smoking, improvement of sleeping position, etc.), use of anti-snoring devices, oral appliances, and in severe cases, may require the use of medical devices such as continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) to assist sleep.
In short, snoring is not simply a noise problem, but an important indicator of sleep health and general health. Understanding the causes and harms behind it, and taking effective measures to intervene in a timely manner, can ensure quality sleep and maintain your health.