Snoring is not something you do knowingly but it can be an annoying habit especially for your spouse or partner. More men than women snore especially if they are prone to obesity. It is quite a common problem. It can actually be classified as a sleep disorder.
You must get it treated because it can affect the amount of sleep you get, disrupting your sleeping pattern, and you can be exhausted and unfit for work the next day.
Recent research has linked snoring to high blood pressure. It can also be a symptom of sleep-apnea, which is a dangerous disorder and should be treated immediately.
There are soft tissues at the back of your throat and when these vibrate it causes the sound of snoring. Some kind of block could also be there that obstructs the air or nasal passageway.
Perhaps the muscle tone in your tongue and throat is not strong enough or there are too many tissues at the back of the throat, and these cause the snoring.
You can reduce your snoring if you sleep on your side rather than on your back. Snoring will also be at an increased decibel level if you are on your back! If you are overweight then try to reduce weight.
This is because the extra fat around your throat can put pressure on the air passageway making you snore. If you have persistent nasal or respiratory allergies then this is the time to get them treated.
If you have these allergies you are more likely to breathe with your mouth open when you sleep and so snore. You can use a saline spray to unblock your nasal passageways before you sleep. Make sure there is nothing in your room that can trigger off these allergies.
Your tonsils or adenoids may be swollen or you may have a deviated septum and that’s why you snore. If you’re a regular smoker then you should know that it would affect your respiratory system and you are more likely to snore.
Don’t take alcohol or sedatives as they relax your mouth and jaw when you sleep so you snore more.
You can keep your head raised on pillows when you sleep as it makes it easier for you to breathe and so you will sleep better and snore less.
Lots of devices have been patented to cure snoring but you must consult a doctor to help you stop the snoring.
He may suggest a mouth guard that you can wear at night. It will hold your teeth together and prevent your jaw muscles from becoming too relaxed when you sleep.
There are also special types of pillows and herbal sprays or nasal strips you can get over the counter but it’s best to seek the help of a doctor to stop the snoring.
You may have to stay overnight at a sleep clinic so that you are evaluated. The doctor can then identify the origin of your snoring and prescribe the correct treatment.
You may be asked to take decongestants or use a CPAP device that keeps your airways open when you sleep so that you don’t snore.
Surgery is the last option you can try to stop your snoring and the doctor can help you decide which is most appropriate for you.
There is help out there for you if you are a sufferer so please do something about your snoring before it degenerates into a more serious disorder.
