Many people with sleep apnea and snoring problems may not even know that
they suffer, because they are buying into some of the common myths about
snoring. The reality is, there are many different reasons for sleep disorders in Novato and other Northern California residents. Learn
more about common myths regarding sleep disorders snoring.
Myth #1: Only older adults experience snoring and sleep-related
issues.
Some people believe that snoring happens to them as they age, or that the
majority of snorers are overweight adults. While there is a correlation between
age, obesity, and snoring, the reality is that people of all ages can snore.
Additionally, many people who suffer undiagnosed from sleep apnea Novato are women, including women who are of a healthy weight. Bottom
line: There is no minimum age for sleep issues, so anyone suffering from poor
sleep may want to consider doing a sleep study to find out whether sleep apnea
or excessive snoring is a problem.
Myth #2: People only snore when they have a stuffy nose.
Some people believe themselves to be occasional snorers, due to allergies or
seasonal colds. While people are likely to snore when they are congested, the
nose is not the only place where disruptive sleep noises arise. Many of these
sounds come from the throat and tongue, meaning that nasal congestion plays a
limited role. Nasal decongestants can thus not eliminate night noises.
Myth #3: Weight loss will help with snoring issues.
While it is a good idea to lose weight if obesity is a concern, the reality
is that losing weight in and of itself will not suddenly turn a snorer into a
non-snorer. The good news is, there are treatments for sleep apnea and snoring
that can reduce and elminate night noises, help the snorer get a better night's
sleep, and restore quality of life.
Myth #4: If you snore, you know it.
The reality is that many people who snore are not aware of this fact until
someone in their life tells them about it. That is, unless they snore so loudly
that they wake themselves up!
It is a myth to think that
someone has to just learn to live with snoring or sleep apnea. These are
incredibly disruptive to sleep and can take a toll on an individual's overall
health and wellness with time.
REM stands for "rapid eye movement". REM sleep is one of the most
important stages of sleep when it comes to healing the body and calming the
mind. For a person to be thoroughly rejuvenated after a full eight hours of
sleep, they must have achieved a REM state several times over the course of the
night.
REM states last anywhere from 70 to 90 minutes and can be repeated several
times a night. During these periods of intense rest, the body re-energizes
itself and helps to prepare the person for the next days' activities. The more
REM states a person has each night, the more rested they feel the next day. If
a person loses any REM sleep, the body tries to make up for it by lapsing into
the REM state immediately the next time they fall asleep.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing while they are
sleeping. In some cases, sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing
upwards of 100 times in a single night. This dramatically lowers a person's
blood oxygen levels causing fatigue, headaches and irritability.


Novato has a long history dating back to 1839, and the
region around it has an even longer history. Of course, most of what we know
about its history is well-documented. For residents of the city who suffer from
Snoring is often the source of plenty of jokes, but it can be a very real
problem. It's estimated that about 45% of all adults snore from time to time,
and for about one-fourth of them it's a regular occurrence. Snoring can cause
several issues including:
About 12 million Americans are estimated to have this sleep
disorder, and left unchecked it can lead to many health issues. Depending on
the severity of the sleep apnea, various treatments may exist. These could
include things like changing sleeping positions, medication adjustment, or even
the use of ventilation machines to ensure the patient breathes during their
rest. It's also possible to correct the problem through minor surgical
procedures.