Dr. Eyitola Ajisegbede, an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor, on Friday in Lagos said snoring while asleep could cause stroke and early death if not properly addressed medically.
The ENT specialist, a staff of Gracene Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos State, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
The doctor explained that obstructed nasal airways, poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue and bulky tissue were major causes of snoring, which needed medical attention.
According to Ajisegbede, snoring causes severe sleep apnea, which is a common disorder, whereby a person has one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while asleep.
He said: “Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is physically obstructed.
“It can cause sleep disorders, heart disease, reduction in sexual functions and carries significant risk for early death.
“It also causes frequent waking from sleep, poor night sleep, low oxygen level in the blood and chronic headaches and strain on the heart.
“When oxygen level drops, it increases risk of stroke.”
Ajisegbede, who noted that snoring was usually common in people that were overweight, added that medical assistance was often needed for habitual snorers to get good night sleep.
He also identified common major causes of snoring as obesity, smoking, alcohol intake and wrong sleeping posture.
The News Agency of Nigeria also reports that snoring meant breathing with a snorting or grunting sound while asleep, which occurred when one cannot move air freely through the nose and throat.
Ajisegbede, however, advised snoring sufferers to change their lifestyle.
He said: “Try and lose weight, do more exercises, quit smoking, avoid alcohol, sedative sleeping pills and establish a very good sleep pattern.
“Meanwhile, having tried all these natural remedies, find time to consult a doctor.”
NAN
