Sound Sleep Guide

Posts Tagged ‘quit snoring’

Understanding what can cause you to snore is the first step in curing your snoring problem. There are quite a few different causes of snoring, each of them treatable in different ways.

Snoring is, generally speaking, brought about by insufficient airflow in the back of the nose and mouth, specifically in the area where the soft palate and uvula come in contact with the upper part of the throat and the back of the tongue.

When these tissues make contact, they vibrate which results in the sound of snoring.

Lack of muscle tone in the throat and tongue are one reason people snore. If the muscles are too relaxed, they can cause the airway to become restricted, which causes blockage and ultimately snoring.

Since alcohol is a depressant, drinking can relax muscles to a point that causes snoring.  If you stop drinking around four hours before you plan on going to sleep, you will be able to reduce the possibility that you will snore.

Other depressants that produce similar results include antihistamines and sleeping pills.

Obesity can lead to restricted breathing by leaving deposits of fat on the throat and neck and thus is another leading cause of snoring.

Some allergies bring about snoring, especially those associated with congestion of the nasal passages, since such blockage makes it difficult to breathe and can cause an individual to snore.

Nasal decongestants are a better option than antihistamines when it comes to dealing with allergies because the latter are a potential cause of snoring.  When it comes to nighttime allergy relief, try to use primarily decongestants in order to prevent both allergy symptoms and snoring.

These are a few of the more common causes of snoring. Whether one of these problems sounds like it might be what is causing your snoring or not, it’s best to discuss the problem with a health care professional to get their informed opinion.

Snoring is a very common problem, especially in adult men.  Snoring is the blockage of airflow when you are sleeping, and the loud sound of snoring is nothing more than the palate and the throat rubbing against one another in an effort to gain air.  Snoring is a relatively harmless problem, but it is a problem none the less.

There are a few simple steps that can be taken in order to cure snoring without having to head to the doctor’s office.  In some cases these steps may not be successful as your snoring problem could be the result of a more serious problem such as enlarged adenoids or tonsils, in which case you should consult a doctor.  Check out some of these preventative measures that are explained below.

1.    Sleeping on your back:  Sleeping on your back can be a big cause of snoring.  In this case you will want to make an effort to move your sleep position to sleeping on your side.  Although it is hard to control exactly how you sleep, there is a trick that will greatly help you to sleep on your side.  If you will take a tennis ball and put it in a sock and then put it in the back of your pants (around the small of your back) you will roll over on your back only to quickly roll back onto your side.

2.    Keeping a close watch on the substances that you intake: Things like smoking and drinking in excess can definitely lead to snoring.  It is recommended that you do not drink at least four hours before going to sleep as alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and constricts the air flow.  Also, antihistamines and sleeping pills will have the same affect as alcohol thus making it hard for airflow.

3.    Watch your weight: If you are overweight or are in the beginning stages of gaining some extra pounds, make an effort to shed those pounds.  When you gain weight or are already obese, fat will store up around your neck and will cause the throat to become constricted.  This constriction will greatly reduce the amount of air that you take in, thus causing you to snore.  If you are overweight make an effort to lose weight by exercising on a daily basis and by eating a healthy and balanced diet.  By taking this step you will greatly increase the chances to cure snoring.

4.    Try over the counter remedies: There are many medicine and herbal remedies that can be used to help in snoring.  There are different medicines, creams, and even devices like nasal strips that will cure snoring in a major way.  Before purchasing any of these herbal or synthetic remedies be smart and read up about them.  Check online and print consumer articles that help in determining which remedy is right for you.  Know that all humans are designed differently so you may have to try a few out before finding one that works for you.

Although snoring is a common problem, it is a problem that should not be taken with a grain of salt.  Often times snoring can be a product of sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing for short periods of time when you are sleeping (usually around 10 to 12 seconds).  If these suggestions seem not to work for you, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor to make sure that you do not suffer from sleep apnea.  Take these preventative steps and sleep better by using these cures for snoring.