I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
From boxing to mixed martial arts, combat sports athletes are no strangers to the physical damage that comes from competing in such aggressive forms of competition. As a combat sports competitor, even if you're as evasive as Floyd Mayweather, odds are good that your nose has taken damage over the years. When the damage is severe enough, you develop a deviated septum, which is a condition where the bone and cartilage in your nose become very crooked. If this happens to you, you'll notice symptoms such as the three listed below.
1. Loud Snoring
Have you recently started snoring loudly at night? Oftentimes, people assume that sudden loud snoring is just related to getting older. But the reality is that if you suddenly start snoring loudly every night, it means that your body is having difficulty moving air through your nose and throat while you're sleeping.
Because you compete in combat sports, this is a red flag that you have a deviated septum. When you have a deviated septum, you'll notice that it's more difficult than normal to breathe through one or both of your nostrils. If this happens, having your deviated septum treated will help you breathe better and resolve the snoring issues.
2. Sleep Apnea
A deviated septum can also cause you to suffer from sleep apnea, a disorder that makes it difficult to breathe while you're asleep. If you have sleep apnea, your breathing will either be intermittent or shallow while you're asleep.
Have you ever woken up feeling like you're choking and gasping for air? This is a major warning sign that you are suffering from sleep apnea. When you have sleep apnea, you'll notice that you never feel fully rested. You'll frequently wake up in the middle of the night and feel mentally and physically drained.
In addition to causing serious health problems, sleep apnea also affects your performance in the gym and in competition, so never ignore this common disorder.
3. Chronic Nosebleeds
Frequent nosebleeds are another problem commonly caused by a deviated septum. The bleeding occurs because the deviation causes air to pass through the nostrils in an unnatural manner. When this happens, one or both of your nostrils dry out and bleed. Never ignore frequent nosebleeds.
Deviated septums are commonly experienced by combat sports competitors. If you notice any of the above symptoms after suffering nose damage, schedule a visit to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor who will assess the damage and discuss treatment options available to you.
Share8 March 2017
