What Are the Side Effects of Snoring?

If you experience snoring, you are not alone. Studies show that 57% of men and 40% of women experience some sort of snoring. In fact, up to 27% of children experience snoring! It may be mild for some people, but it can indicate other serious health issues for others.

Here are 6 side effects of snoring and whether they should be of concern to you:

Poor Sleep

This could be the case for you or your partner. Loud snoring could be keeping your partner up late at night or waking them up in the middle of their sleep. It could also be preventing you from getting the deep sleep you deserve. If your body is continuously woken up, it can’t reach a full REM cycle, which will cause you to feel tired in the morning.

Drop in Oxygen Level

Snoring happens when tissues in your throat relax, and air tries to pass through. This causes a vibration that escapes as a noise – a.k.a. snoring. If the tissues in your throat relax too much, it means you might not be getting enough oxygen to your brain. Normal oxygenated air is 21% oxygen. Anything lower than 19.5% oxygen and the body will show hypoxia (low oxygen). Chemoreceptors in the brain will start firing, which tells your body to start breathing. If you are sleeping during this process, your body could be woken up. Therefore, low oxygen levels have a direct correlation to good sleep.

Feeling Ill in the Morning

Waking up in the morning with a headache or congestion can be a side effect of snoring. If this happens frequently, it can be a sign that you are suffering from frequent and serious snoring. Headaches are also a symptom of low oxygen levels. When insufficient amounts of oxygen reach the brain, headaches are common and can be an early warning sign of hypoxia (low oxygen).

Daytime Drowsiness 

Snoring typically keeps you from sleeping well at night. This can happen even if you get a full night’s rest. If you are finding yourself falling asleep at your desk or nodding off at stoplights, you are not alone. This affects 20% of the population. One common cause of both Snoring and Daytime Drowsiness is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, so if you are experiencing both its a good idea to get tested

Teeth Grinding 

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is really bad for your mouth. If you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw or tender teeth, that could be a sign that you have been grinding your teeth at night. Typically, teeth grinding can also be spotted by your dentist during a routine exam. If you think you might be grinding your teeth, ask your dentist to take a look the next time you make an appointment.

Weight Gain

Poor sleep often leads to increased weight gain. Unfortunately, weight gain tends to make snoring worse; this can become a vicious spiral. If you notice an increase in weight gain, along with other symptoms, it could be a sign of snoring.

If you are a heavy snorer, you may have obstructive sleep apnea. To find out if you have the other sleep apnea symptoms, we invite you to take our sleep apnea screener. Our screener is 92% accurate at assessing whether you are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea.