Snoring with a rude awakening
The numbers may vary, but roughly 40-45% of normal adults snore occasionally; and 25% are habitual snorers. Is that necessarily serious? Potentially, if the snorer becomes an object of ridicule or resentment, and causes sleepless nights for others. And medically, snoring can disturb sleep patterns and deprive the snorer of adequate rest.
But the real danger comes when snoring causes serious, long-term health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea. Literally meaning "without breath," apnea can cause the snorer to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.
This combination of sleep disturbance and oxygen starvation can result in multiple problems: hypertension, heart disease, mood and memory problems, weight gain, impotence, headaches, irritability or fatigue. Because sleep is fragmented and of poor quality, snorers can experience sleepiness during the day, impaired job performance, and even motor vehicle crashes.
Increased risk factors:
Small upper airway (or large tongue, tonsils or uvula)
Overweight
Recessed chin, small jaw or a large overbite
Large neck size (17" or greater for men; 16" or greater for women)
Smoking and alcohol use
Age 40 or older
Ethnicity (especially African-Americans, Pacific-Islanders and Hispanics)
Your sleepmate will most likely notice the symptoms first, but if you think you may have sleep apnea, see a doctor for a diagnosis.