But snoring can be more than just an annoyance to anyone else in the room; it can be a symptom of a serious health condition, and has been linked to dangers like heart disease.
DailyBurn: How much sleep do you really need?
Of course, there are many reasons why people snore and not all of them are chronic or hazardous to your health. If you sleep alone, you may not even be aware that you’re “sawing logs” on a regular basis. Here’s how to know whether you or a loved one is at risk for snoring-related health problems and what you can do about it.
Why we snore
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How to treat sleep apnea
The good news is that sleep apnea is very treatable and easily diagnosed through an overnight sleep study done either in your home or at a sleep clinic.
Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or not sleeping on your back, may help some people. And if not, almost all cases can be treated by using a device called a continuous positive-air pressure, or CPAP, machine. The device sends air through a tube and a mask, into a patient’s nose and mouth while they sleep, keeping the airway open.
“It may take a few weeks of getting used to, but once they get over that hurdle most patients say it literally changes their life,” says Grandner. “It gives them more energy during the day, so a lot of them are finally able to exercise, eat better, and really get healthier overall.”
