{"id":11571,"date":"2018-12-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/condition-sleep-the-health-risks-of-snoring-and-why-they-might-be-worse-for-women\/"},"modified":"2018-12-03T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-12-03T00:00:00","slug":"condition-sleep-the-health-risks-of-snoring-and-why-they-might-be-worse-for-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/condition-sleep-the-health-risks-of-snoring-and-why-they-might-be-worse-for-women\/","title":{"rendered":"The Health Risks of Snoring–and Why They Might Be Worse for Women"},"content":{"rendered":"
At least 37 million adults snore on a regular basis, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But all snoring is not equal: Occasional snoring, due to congestion or a bad sleeping position, is a nuisance. Habitual snoring can disturb your sleep patterns and rob both you and your partner of needed rest.<\/p>\n
Snoring to the extent that you stop breathing—–as in the case of obstructive sleep apnea–—is a serious health threat that puts you at risk for heart disease<\/a> and stroke.<\/p>\n Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart attack or death by 30% over a four- to five-year period. As the upper airway collapses and oxygen is cut off from the lungs, the body triggers a fight-or-flight response, which decreases blood flow to the heart. Together these two actions raise blood pressure and, over time, wear out the heart.<\/p>\n According to new research presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, this risk may be greater in women<\/a>. In the new study, the walls of the heart were enlarged in people who snored or had sleep apnea. Compared to non-snorers, women who snored had bigger changes in their hearts than men.<\/p>\n RELATED: 17 Weird Things That May Affect Your Heart Disease Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n Karen Shaver, a registered nurse in Valencia, Pennsylvania, experienced firsthand sleep apnea's strain on her heart.<\/p>\n "Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I frequently had chest pains, usually at early evening while I napped," says Shaver. "One really scared me: Both arms were numb and it radiated up to my jaw. Being a nurse, I knew this was not a good sign, so I called 911."<\/p>\n The ambulance technicians gave Shaver oxygen and rushed her to the hospital. By then the strange feeling had gone away and doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her.<\/p>\n An overnight sleep study, however, showed that Shaver wasn't getting enough oxygen while she slept, and that she needed a continuous positive airway pressure<\/a> (CPAP) machine to keep air flowing into her lungs. Since she began treatment, her chest pains have disappeared.<\/p>\n "When sleep apnea patients come here, there's a real sense of disbelief," says Ralph Downey III, PhD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Loma Linda University in California.<\/p>\n "We tell them, 'Every minute you stop breathing for 30 seconds; that's like somebody coming in and strangling you.' That's the big wake-up call—–when they realize how low their oxygen level is."<\/p>\n RELATED: 13 Ways Being a Night Owl Could Hurt Your Health<\/strong><\/p>\n Sleep apnea also increases your risk for more immediate problems:<\/p>\n The severity of your snoring problem can be determined through an overnight sleep study, where machines measure the oxygen saturation of your red blood cells. (Anything below 90% saturation is cause for concern.) Depending on the results of these tests, you may be diagnosed with sleep apnea or a similar condition, upper airway resistance syndrome.<\/p>\n If you're unsure whether your or your loved one's symptoms warrant immediate attention, use these guidelines about when to see a doctor. The sooner sleep apnea is treated, the less likely you are to suffer health consequences later.<\/p>\n How sleep apnea affects your heart<\/b> <\/h3>\n
Other health risks and complications<\/b> <\/h3>\n
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