As we age, snoring tends to worsen. But why? As we age, our lifestyle changes, along with our health. Natural changes in our body can contribute to this, creating a combination that can dramatically increase snoring as we get older.
Lifestyle Changes with Age
Many of these lifestyle changes can contribute to snoring. One common lifestyle change is alcohol consumption. People tend to consume more alcohol as they get older. Alcohol can relax the tissues of the throat, causing the airway to narrow, which leads to snoring. Older people are more likely to be smokers as well, though they don’t necessarily smoke more as they get older.
We Slow Down with Age
Another aspect of your lifestyle that can change is the amount of exercise that you get on a daily basis. As you’re getting less exercise, you’re doing less to tone the muscles of the throat. With less tone, these muscles are less likely to be able to support themselves while you sleep.
You’re also likely to gain a little weight. Weight gain is one of the most significant changes that contributes to snoring with age. The more weight you have, especially the weight you carry in the throat area, the more likely you are to snore.
Hormonal Changes
Menopause can have a considerable difference on women’s snoring. Women are much more likely to be snorers and suffer sleep apnea after menopause.
Combat the Effects of Aging
If you are looking to counteract the effects of aging, it’s important to consider the role of snoring and possible sleep apnea have on your overall health. These sleep disturbances can make it hard to stay active , hard to quit smoking or drinking , and hard to maintain a youthful appearance. If you are really looking to improve your life and maintain your youth, it might be good to start by evaluating your sleep.
To learn about snoring and sleep apnea treatments in Omaha, please call (402) 493-4175 for an appointment with a sleep dentist at the Advanced Dental Sleep Treatment Center today.
