If your sleeping partner snores, you may feel like you know all there is to know about snoring; it’s loud, it’s annoying, and it prevents the snorer’s partner from achieving adequate rest. However, like most common health conditions, there’s more to snoring than what’s immediately obvious. To help clarify the meaning and danger behind consistent snoring, your Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, answers a few of the most frequently asked questions about the phenomenon.
Frequently Asked Snoring Questions
Is snoring normal?
“Normal” and “common” are often used interchangeably, but just because something happens a lot doesn’t make it natural. For instance, snoring is a common occurrence, and is often written off as normal; however, the loud sound typically indicates an airway obstruction that inhibits the flow of oxygen. In extreme cases, snoring can even indicate a sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea, which denies patients adequate rest and poses a wealth of systemic health risks.
How is snoring dangerous to my health?
Have you ever wondered where snoring stems from? When you sleep, the tissues in your throat and at the back of your mouth relax, and can sometimes collapse partially into the airway. As the airway grows smaller from the intrusion, air is forced through a more confined space, causing the tissues to vibrate and make noise, like air escaping from the mouth of a balloon. Over time, the reduced flow of oxygen can have a significant impact on your cardiovascular health, such as increasing the risk of a stroke.
Is snoring easy to stop?
Since many people are unaware that snoring can be dangerous, some simply allow it to continue. Others might wish to stop snoring, but aren’t sure how, or where to start. In most cases, Dr. Leibowitz may recomend a specially-designed oral appliance that can prevent oral tissues from blocking the airway. The device holds the lower jaw in a slightly forward position to keep the airway clear, and is often prescribed for patients who’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.
Visit Your Astoria Dentist Today
For more information on how to stop snoring, schedule a consultation with your Astoria dentist by calling our office today at (718) 728-8320. Located in the 11106 area, we proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
