How Snoring Affects Your Life According to New Jersey Doctor
Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Mon 01/31/2011 - 14:14
Snoring affects at least 30% of adults and some surveys suggest even up to 50% of the population have some occurrences of snoring. Most experts contend men snore more than women (approximately 24%) compared to women at 14%. That number increases with age: 60% for men and 40% for women aged 60 to 65 years.
Effects of Snoring
Snoring is known to cause sleep deprivation to the snorer as well as to the others around them. Snorers typically experience daytime drowsiness, suffer from irritability, have trouble focusing and experience a decrease in their libido. Snoring can have a significant impact on one’s marriage and recent studies even link snoring with the development of carotid artery atherosclerosis, the risk of brain damage and of stroke.
Causes of Snoring
The structures of the mouth involved in snoring are usually the uvula and soft palate. The irregular airflow is caused by a blockage of some kind in the passageway and usually due to one of the following:
- Throat weakness
- Mispositioned jaw
- Fat collected in and around the throat (generally in individuals who are overweight)
- Obstructions in the nasal path
- Tissues touching causing vibrations
- Alcohol/drugs relaxing the throat
- Tongue dropping to the back of the mouth
Snoring Treatments
Dental appliances are the preferred nonsurgical solution to snoring. Often referred to as mandibular splints, they advance the jaw slightly frontward thereby forcing the tongue forward. When considering a dental appliance for snoring correction, a dentist specializing in sleep apnea should be consulted. Mandibular splints are often tolerated much better than CPAP machines which many patients considering confining and too loud to sleep.
If you or a loved one has a snoring problem, please call New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions at 855.WHY.SNORE today for a complimentary consultation.
