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Is Your Snoring A Problem
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by: tarynbrava
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Word Count: 348
Snoring itself is not usually anything to worry about, aside from keeping your bed partner from getting enough sleep. But, snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a serious health condition. How serious is your snoring?
Here are some questions that you can answer that will help you determine if your snoring is something you should be concerned about:
1. Does your bed partner say you make a hoarse or fluttering noise when you sleep? If so, then you do probably snore.
2. Do you drink alcohol or smoke? Smoking can cause you to have a stuffy nose, which is one of the major causes of snoring. Drinking alcohol can cause the airway muscles in your neck to loosen and this will increase the likelihood of snoring.
3. Are you overweight? Most snorers are overweight.
4. Are you often very sleepy and tired during the day? If so, then your snoring is disrupting your sleep. This may be from the snoring itself or from sleep apnea.
5. Do you sometimes fall asleep in places you shouldn't, such as work or while eating or driving? Again, extreme sleepiness can be associated with sleep apnea which is a serious condition in which your body does not get the oxygen it needs while you sleep. There is another disease called narcolepsy that also can cause a person to feel sleepier than normal during their wake hours.
The statistics show that 45% of adults snore occasionally, 25% snore most of the time and nearly 20 million American's have sleep apnea.
If you are concerned about your snoring, ask your doctor these questions:
1. What are the lifestyle factors that are likely to increase my snoring?
2. What can I do to stop or reduce my snoring? Are there medications I can take?
3. Does my snoring mean that I have obstructive sleep apnea? Is this a treatable condition?
4. What lifestyle changes should I make? When will I feel the results from these changes?
Snoring and sleep apnea are easily diagnosed and treated when appropriate medical care is sought. See a sleep medicine specialist if you need help with your snoring.
About the Author
If you would like to read additional information about sleep apnea and CPAP, visit http://www.cpap-mask.org.
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