Why should you be concerned about snoring?
Snoring may seem to be a harmless problem, but sometimes it can be harmful to both you and those around you. If you suffer from snoring, you and your partners sleep will most certainly be disrupted.
Why do you snore? – If you snore then the muscles of the throat are usually too relaxed, or the tissues and structures in the throat may be too big. Therefore the passageway is partially blocked, making the tissues in the throat, the soft palate and the tonsils flutter and flap against each other.
What is sleep apnoea – This serious condition is when your breathing stops due to the airway being blocked. It is common among adults but rare among children. When your breathing stops the brain will tell the body to wake up and open the air passage. You won’t necessarily wake up enough to realise what’s happened, but the next day you will be exhausted from a lack of sleep.
Some symptoms of sleep apnoea include:
- Frequent waking episodes at night
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Loud snoring
- Disrupted breathing, gasping, gagging, or choking for air during sleep
Sleep apnoea is a serious and life threatening condition and if we think that you are suffering from this condition we will refer you to a sleep specialist for further investigation.