HOW TO SLEEP SOUNDLY

Regular snoring signals an underlying condition that leads to a host of ailments during the day. Luckily, there are measures to remedy it.

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Regular snoring signals an underlying condition that leads to a host of ailments during the day. Luckily, there are measures to remedy it.

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Unless someone has prodded you awake, you might not be aware that you snore. Yet 25 percent of the world’s adults are in fact regular snorers. Despite how common it is, the fact is that snoring is not normal, and it can lead to health issues. Compared to occasional snorers, regular snorers are five times more likely to suffer from hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Yes, snoring is not a trivial problem. It is ultimately an indicator that an individual suffers from sleep disordered breathing (SDB), which can range from simple snoring to upper airway resistance syndrome or obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). There are many common causes for SDB, which include allergic rhinitis, tonsil enlargement, and even obesity. An adult with OSA receives less oxygen in their blood due to the obstruction or collapse of their airways. By day, sufferers feel irritable, fatigued and have issues focusing or remembering things. At night, they have poor libido, grind their teeth, experience increased urination, and even stop breathing or choke while sleeping. There are, however, many ways to tackle the problem. Occasional snorers can try changing their sleep position, avoiding alcohol and smoking, losing weight, and treating nasal conditions. Other solutions include oral devices, medication, continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP, which is a ventilator used to keep your airways open), or even surgery. Ultimately, the best thing to do is to approach a specialist for a sleep study, and a full clinical evaluation to determine the sites and severity of obstruction. 

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For more information, visit the Lynne Lim Ear Nose Throat & Hearing Centre (Child & Adult), #17-07 Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre (Orchard), 3 Mount Elizabeth. Tel: 6737-7787

http://www.drlynnelim.com