Snoring is a problem not only for those around who experience discomfort but also for the person who is sleeping. The loud, hoarse sounds made during sleep can signal serious health threats, including the risk of heart attack or stroke.
According to otolaryngologist and candidate of medical sciences Vladimir Zaitsev, snoring during sleep is a troubling signal sent by the brain, as it is 'suffocating' from a lack of oxygen. It is important to understand that brain ventilation occurs only during nasal breathing. When a person snores, they breathe through their throat because their nasal passages are blocked.
As a result, the brain not only misses out on a full night's rest but also experiences physical discomfort. It is no wonder that in the morning a person feels tired and broken. If snoring becomes chronic, it can lead to serious health consequences—metabolic disorders, weight gain, and fluctuations in blood pressure. All of this significantly increases the risk of heart attack and/or stroke.
The causes of snoring may be related to swelling of the nasal mucosa or enlargement of its turbinates. Chronic snoring is often caused by a deviated septum, polyps, and an unhealthy lifestyle, especially evening overeating. Short-term snoring can occur due to acute or allergic rhinitis, in simpler terms, during a cold.
The expert recommends addressing this problem not to a sleep specialist but to an otolaryngologist. This specialist can assess the seriousness of the problem, determine the causes of snoring, and offer appropriate recommendations. In some cases, surgical intervention may be required, but most often treatment is limited to outpatient care. Sometimes it is enough to rinse the nasopharynx and eliminate inflammation and swelling to restore full nasal breathing.
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