Are You a Snorer? Here are 3 Reasons to Seek Medical Intervention

Snoring is a common problem among Americans. In fact, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO), nearly half of all adults in the country snore, and some 25 percent are habitual snorers.

If you're a statistic, it is worth keeping in mind that while habitual snoring may seem innocuous, it most likely warrants medical treatment. Here are three reasons that serve as a wake-up call for you to seek medical intervention for habitual or heavy snoring.

Reason #1: It can Signify a Potentially Serious Underlying Health Problem

Habitual or heavy snoring, especially when accompanied by the following symptoms, is a potential symptom of sleep apnea–a sleep disorder characterized by breathing disturbances, which can cause hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the blood) or hypoxemia (lox oxygen levels in the tissues).

• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime lethargy or sleepiness
• Chest pains, especially at night
• Choking or gasping during sleep
• Sore throat upon waking up
• Poor attention span

Sleep apnea, when left untreated, puts you at greater risk of sudden death and other serious health complications, such as hypertension, brain damage, stroke, and heart failure.

Reason #2: It Can Affect Your Mental Health

Heavy snoring can affect your mental health in a number of ways, as explained below:

Research shows that sleep deprivation associated with heavy snoring, regardless of whom it is affecting—whether the person doing the snoring or the one hearing it—can lead to anxiety, which reduces the person's ability to effectively cope with stress.

For someone who's already struggling with a mental health condition, sleep deprivation can worsen their symptoms.

Additionally, results of a recent study demonstrate that majority of people with sleep apnea are manifesting clinically significant depressive symptoms.

Sleep deprivation can significantly impair certain brain functions, particularly hippocampal function (storing episodic memories and learning).

Reason #3: It May Also Indicate That You Have Nasal/Sinus Problems

Chronic nasal congestion can result in habitual or heavy snoring. This is because when you breathe through a clogged nose, you will create greater suction forces that can cause your throat to relax and your soft palate and uvula to flap.

One of the most common culprits in persistent nasal congestion is chronic sinusitis which, when left untreated, can lead to permanent damage of your olfactory nerve (which helps you smell) and loss of vision due to optic nerve injury.