Relationship Between Snoring And ErectileDysfunction
Recent studies have revealed a strong correlation between sleeping disorders and erectile dysfunction in men. Far from being a mere night time annoyance, snoring has now been shown to be a serious health problem which affects the endocrines system and is associated with this disorder.
It is estimated that about 100 - 175 million in the US and Europe suffer from snoring. Snoring is usually the result of an obstructed airway. Although snoring itself does not constitute a major health concern, it is often symptomatic of other more serious sleeping disorders. A significant percentage of people who snore loudly also stop breathing several times during the night. The condition is known as sleep apnea and is one of the most common sleeping disorders. Patients with severe sleep apnea have been known to quit breathing hundreds of times, sometimes as long as a minute, during a single night. People who snore are considered to be at a greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Snoring lengthens the soft palate, which can result in obstructed breathing and oxygen deprivation.
Although the connection is not immediately apparent, unobstructed oxygen intake during the night is vital for sexual performance. The relationship between snoring and erectile dysfunction is established through a tiny piece of tissue at the back of the throat known as the carotid body which is responsible for sensing levels of oxygen. Whenever your oxygen levels drop during the night (which is often, if you are a heavy snorer), the carotid body sets of an alarm. Your body raises your blood pressure as a response. This leads to hypertension, which is one of the leading causes of impotence. In other words, producing an erection would be impossible without oxygen-rich blood.
The connection between oxygen intake and erectile dysfunction has also been proved by a number of studies involving drugs that treat the condition. According to the American Heart Association, about 60%-70% of heart failure patients also suffer the ability to keep an erection. The study showed that drugs which treated this problem in cardiac patients also significantly improved their ability take in oxygen.
A study published in the March 2004 issue of the Urology journal showed that 50% of men who experienced obstructive sleep apnea did not have morning erections and that a similar percentage of heavy snorers also suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The result is supported by several studies published earlier; all which point to a definite scientific correlation between snoring, sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. Most notable among these was one published in 2001 by the American College of Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Clearly, anything that affects intake of oxygen has a serious impact on your ability to achieve and sustain and erection. Snoring is the number one cause of decreased oxygen intake. Consequently, the severity of your snoring problem has a direct bearing on your risk of developing erectile dysfunction. In addition to increasing your risk of developing it, snoring has also been shown to increase the risk of heart attack during sleep. According to an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the consequences of intermittent oxygen deprivation, if it persists for years, can be very drastic.
If you are like most people, you probably do not realize that you do snore. Many people are heavy snorers and they wake themselves up several times during the night without realizing it. If you find yourself waking up tired and with the feeling of not having slept at all, it is likely that you suffer from snoring and sleep apnea.
It is estimated that about 100 - 175 million in the US and Europe suffer from snoring. Snoring is usually the result of an obstructed airway. Although snoring itself does not constitute a major health concern, it is often symptomatic of other more serious sleeping disorders. A significant percentage of people who snore loudly also stop breathing several times during the night. The condition is known as sleep apnea and is one of the most common sleeping disorders. Patients with severe sleep apnea have been known to quit breathing hundreds of times, sometimes as long as a minute, during a single night. People who snore are considered to be at a greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Snoring lengthens the soft palate, which can result in obstructed breathing and oxygen deprivation.
Although the connection is not immediately apparent, unobstructed oxygen intake during the night is vital for sexual performance. The relationship between snoring and erectile dysfunction is established through a tiny piece of tissue at the back of the throat known as the carotid body which is responsible for sensing levels of oxygen. Whenever your oxygen levels drop during the night (which is often, if you are a heavy snorer), the carotid body sets of an alarm. Your body raises your blood pressure as a response. This leads to hypertension, which is one of the leading causes of impotence. In other words, producing an erection would be impossible without oxygen-rich blood.
The connection between oxygen intake and erectile dysfunction has also been proved by a number of studies involving drugs that treat the condition. According to the American Heart Association, about 60%-70% of heart failure patients also suffer the ability to keep an erection. The study showed that drugs which treated this problem in cardiac patients also significantly improved their ability take in oxygen.
A study published in the March 2004 issue of the Urology journal showed that 50% of men who experienced obstructive sleep apnea did not have morning erections and that a similar percentage of heavy snorers also suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The result is supported by several studies published earlier; all which point to a definite scientific correlation between snoring, sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. Most notable among these was one published in 2001 by the American College of Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Clearly, anything that affects intake of oxygen has a serious impact on your ability to achieve and sustain and erection. Snoring is the number one cause of decreased oxygen intake. Consequently, the severity of your snoring problem has a direct bearing on your risk of developing erectile dysfunction. In addition to increasing your risk of developing it, snoring has also been shown to increase the risk of heart attack during sleep. According to an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the consequences of intermittent oxygen deprivation, if it persists for years, can be very drastic.
If you are like most people, you probably do not realize that you do snore. Many people are heavy snorers and they wake themselves up several times during the night without realizing it. If you find yourself waking up tired and with the feeling of not having slept at all, it is likely that you suffer from snoring and sleep apnea.
