If you’re a snorer, you might not even realize it unless a sleep partner informs you. However, there are symptoms that might indicate problems with snoring and, usually at the same time, problems with sleeping.
One indicator is fairly obvious: You’re sleepy or even exhausted in the daytime even though you slept a full eight or so hours — or so you thought (since snoring interrupts sleep patterns, more on this in a bit).
The other effect might not show up until you’ve aged a bit, and that is cardiovascular threats associated with snoring and poor sleep.
If no one has pointed out your snoring, how can you judge for yourself if you have a problem? Look for these symptoms/indicators:
. Too sleepy in the daytime
. Headaches in the morning
. Recent weight gain
. Not feeling rested when you awake in the morning
. Awakening in the night feeling confused
. Struggles with your attention level, concentration or memory
. Observed pauses in breathing while sleeping
In all, some 90 million Americans snore, and of those, 37 million are regular, even nightly, snorers. Those most at risk are males and anyone who is overweight.
Sometimes, snoring is associated with sleep apnea, which is a condition that can result in everything from elevated blood pressure to cardiovascular risk. Sleep apnea is a condition of interrupted breathing during sleep, which results in very poor rest and can lead to health problems.
At any rate, you should consult a doctor if you have any of the symptoms/indicators mentioned above. For your sake and the sake of those who sleep with or near you, you need to get your snoring under control, especially if it results from sleep apnea.
