Snoring Poses Significant Health Risks, Experts Warn

In a recent advisory, medical experts have underscored the serious health risks associated with snoring, stating that it can elevate the likelihood of various non-communicable diseases including high blood pressure, blood sugar issues, and potentially fatal conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

Snoring, identified as the most prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder often linked with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), affects a staggering number of individuals in India, with reports indicating that over 12 crore people grapple with OSA.

Explaining to IANS, Dr. Manoj Pawar, who works as an Associate Consultant in Pulmonology at Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune, described snoring as the recurrent occurrence of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway, resulting in reduced or absent breathing during sleep, with these occurrences termed apneas and hypopneas.

While occasional snoring might not pose significant risks, Dr. Manoj emphasized the importance of addressing concerns if an individual experiences excessive daytime sleepiness or restless sleep due to snoring.

Dr. Manoj further elaborated, “The prominent symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness wherein patients tend to sleep very easily during daytime activities, such as watching TV, sitting with family, reading newspapers, and even while driving a car. It can be very dangerous.”

Multifaceted Symptoms Of Snoring: Unveiling Its Hidden Effects

Moreover, snoring can manifest through various symptoms including early morning headaches, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, decreased libido, and increased urinary frequency.

Dr. Santosh Bangar, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Global Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, highlighted the severe consequences of untreated snoring.

He stated, “When the obstruction is severe, the oxygen supply to the various body organs is affected leading to apnea (stoppage of breathing). Because of lack of oxygen, they suffer from a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as tiredness, daytime sleepiness, irritability, and lack of concentration.”

He further cautioned that snoring could precipitate marital issues, road traffic accidents, and exacerbate mental and physical health complications including hypertension, diabetes, irregular heart rhythm, heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, strokes, dementia, and depression.

Dr. Santosh also noted that snoring tends to be more prevalent among men with certain physical characteristics such as a short neck, large tongue, or jaw abnormalities.

However, it can also affect individuals across different body types and may have a hereditary component.

In light of these risks, experts advocated for adopting a healthy lifestyle, emphasizing weight management, regular exercise, consuming a light dinner, and abstaining from sleep aids, smoking, and alcohol.

Additionally, they recommended the use of interventions such as CPAP masks or jaw braces to mitigate snoring-related issues.

As snoring continues to pose significant health concerns, early detection and proactive management are crucial in safeguarding against its potential adverse effects on both physical and mental well-being.