When Is Snoring a Problem?

aging cardiovascular health confidence cortisol couples diabetes erectile dysfunction family relationships health high blood pressure hormones intimacy menopause mental health obstructive sleep apnea serotonin snoring stroke testosterone Jun 10, 2023

Snorers are often the target of jokes.¹ But snoring is one of the symptoms of a disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In OSA, the collapse of the airway stops the flow of air into the lungs and lowers blood oxygen levels. This leads to abnormal breathing and frequent awakenings during sleep. ^2,3 Research has shown that snoring and OSA can be a serious matter that negatively affects the following:

Intimacy
Family Relationships
Confidence
Health

As we'll see in this article, it's not just snorers who suffer from a reduced quality of life because of their condition.

Intimacy

Multiple studies show that the noise from an individual's snoring disrupts the bed partner's sleep. The partner's poor sleep quality at night can then lead to sleepiness during the day, fatigue, and mood swings. These problems can make partners resent the snorers and lose interest in intimate relationships with them in the long term.³

Snoring and OSA can harm intimacy in other ways too. In a study, male patients with OSA were asked to assess their sexual relationships with their partners. Among the group, 63 percent said they had relationship problems, while 69 percent reported lower sexual desire. Also, 46 and 29 percent had difficulty with arousal and orgasm.⁴ These issues may be partly due to erectile dysfunction (ED), which is linked to low levels of the sex hormone testosterone. Low testosterone has been observed in men with OSA.³

Family Relationships

A study of 6,000 adults in the USA, the UK, and Australia found that snoring and inadequate sleep caused emotional issues. In particular, both conditions made people irritable and more likely to get into arguments. Between 20 percent and 30 percent of adults in the three countries argued about snoring three times a month or more.¹

Based on another study, conflict between family members after a night of poor sleep is linked to increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. High stress levels can make it difficult to understand others' thoughts and feelings. They can cause poor control of one's own behavior too. In addition, stress has been associated with aggression and punishing behavior.⁵ All of these factors harm social interactions between snorers and their family members who cannot sleep well due to snoring.

Confidence

Half of the adults in the USA-UK-Australia study said that they feel embarrassed by their snoring. In the same group, 14 percent reported that snoring affects their confidence, while 8 percent said it has an impact on their mental health.¹ Such embarrassment and distress often pushes loud snorers to seek professional treatment.⁶

OSA and other sleep disorders often result in shorter sleep times (i.e., less than 7 to 8 hours per night). Several studies have found that chronic sleep loss is linked to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety in both adults and adolescents.⁷ These effects are also associated with high cortisol and low levels of testosterone. Testosterone is an important hormone in both men's and women's bodies. It is known to promote the function of serotonin, the body's feel-good hormone. Without sufficient testosterone, serotonin levels decrease. In turn, lower levels of serotonin are linked to poor mood and depressive symptoms.^8,9

Health

Various studies reveal that snoring is linked to other health issues across different age groups. For example, adult and child snorers are at higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems.^10,11 Pregnant women who snore appear to have high blood pressure more often compared to their non-snoring counterparts.¹² Females — specifically those who have been snoring before and for at least 10 years after menopause — are more likely to have diabetes.¹³ Adolescent snorers with immune-related diseases like asthma and allergic rhinitis have shown signs of premature aging.¹⁴

In addition to heart problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes, there is a strong link between stroke and OSA. Because of these life-threatening health risks, people with OSA tend to live shorter lives compared to the general population.^2,15

Conclusion

Snoring is no laughing matter when it takes its toll on intimate relationships and family life. Also, it is a serious problem when it adversely affects one's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The science is clear. Getting rid of snoring and OSA will improve quality of life not only for snorers, but also their loved ones. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that there is no effective long-term solution to snoring and OSA. But there's good news! The Snoring Diet Solution offers a natural and permanent way to stop snoring. This program will bring you guaranteed results in as little as two weeks — without invasive surgery, uncomfortable devices, or expensive sleep studies!

References