The Cause of Snoring

While snoring is a normal side effect to having a stuffy nose, it’s not healthy to experience snoring on a daily basis. Snoring is a sound of vibrations in the air. It comes from your airway, most commonly your nose and throat. These areas of your airway begin to vibrate when they become obstructed. Think of your throat as a garden hose. When you squeeze the hose, it becomes bubbled and uneven. The same thing happens to your throat when you snore. Your airway vibrates the surrounding soft tissue such as your larynx or tongue. This creates the snoring sound.

How Snoring Is Linked To Sleep Apnea

Happy couple after snoring treatment in St. Louis

About 70% of people with sleep apnea snore. This is why it’s one of the most common symptoms to watch out for. Anyone who snores is considered at risk. The louder you snore, the higher your risk of having sleep apnea.

If you snore, it’s a good idea to be evaluated. Dr. Chris Hill can refer you to a sleep clinic in St. Louis or recommend that you visit your physician to take a sleep test. The sleep test will analyze and evaluate your sleep. There are sleep tests you can take in the comfort of your own bed.

Other common symptoms of sleep apnea are:

  • Mood disorders such as depression
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Bad memory and other cognitive problems
  • High blood pressure and other heart conditions

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s incredibly important to have yourself checked. Sleep apnea can result in life-threatening heart conditions. It can also increase your risk of early death by five times or more.

Dangers of Snoring

Even if you don’t suffer from sleep apnea, snoring is actually associated with several serious risks such as:

  • Cardiovascular risks
  • Poor sleep
  • Car accidents
  • Relationship problems

It’s common for sleep apnea and snoring to be associated with many different cardiovascular risks. This is because the vibrations from snoring can damage your arteries. Damage to your arteries can lead to scarring and hardening which can lead to cardiovascular problems such as a stroke. It can also lead to high blood pressure and put you at a higher risk for a heart attack or heart disease.

When you snore, your body doesn’t get free and open airflow which can make sleeping peacefully hard to accomplish. The sound of your own snoring may also wake you up throughout the night. Regardless, if you’re snoring, you’re most likely not sleeping well.

Poor sleeping patterns can actually increase your risk of being in a car accident. This is because, without proper sleep, you’re more likely to doze off at the wheel or feel less alert.

Poor sleep can also cause conflict between you and your partner because you both are sleeping poorly. Save yourself from these horrible side effects of snoring and seek treatment.

Snoring Treatment in St. Louis

If you find yourself snoring at night, it’s time to try a new type of treatment. If you’ve tried over-the-counter treatments or even a CPAP machine but you can’t seem to find one that is comfortable enough or actually works, an oral appliance might be the right solution for you.

At Smile On Dental Studio in Richmond Heights, MO, our dentist Dr. Chris Hill can provide you with a custom-made oral appliance after a quick visit for a consultation. They are comfortable to wear at night and incredibly convenient to bring with you if you need to travel or stay the night somewhere. Never snore again with help from our oral appliance therapy.

Are you ready to stop snoring for good? Please call (314) 678-7876 today for an appointment with sleep dentist Dr. Chris Hill at our St. Louis location.