Snoring is such a familiar concept, and the butt of so much mockery, its hard to believe that it can be the cause of so much discomfort and misery. And many of the problems, of course, are not experienced by the snorer at all, but by their hapless bed partner.
As with all muscle groups, those around the throat, active and in use in the waking hours, relax in sleep, allowing the airways to be partially blocked by soft tissue. These in turn vibrate, producing the noise of snoring. Many people will be sensitive to the idea that they may be snoring, resisting their partners assertions.
Getting the right kind of help to stop snoring depends on the reason that you snore, and there are many. Being overweight, particularly carrying extra weight around the neck can constrict the airways at night. This tends to be a problem area for men and post-menopausal women.
Inevitably, drugs whose effects include relaxing of muscles can be a cause or contributory factor in snoring. This can be the case with sleeping tablets and, of course, alcohol. Alcohol increases the likelihood of snoring in other ways too, raising the risk of congestion, and irritating the delicate lining of the nasal passages.
Naturally cigarette smoke has a very direct effect on the upper respiratory system, with distension and catarrh potential consequences. Reducing cigarette and alcohol consumption can be both physically, psychologically and socially challenging, but any reduction will give the body a chance of holding its own against these poisons, and avoiding them in the evening makes an opportunity allows the body some time to process them before sleeping.
One of the most easily solved factors in snoring is sleeping on your back. Youre more likely to sleep with your mouth open in this position, so anti snoring devices which prompt you to sleep on your side, or with your head raised, may be all thats required to solve the problem.
A range of more sophisticated anti snoring devices has been developed to cure mouth breathing: oral shields block mouth breathing entirely, whilst lip supports and chin straps encourage the mouth to stay closed. Nasal strips to open the nostrils and promote the passage of air can be a useful partner to these.
Nasal stuffiness, sometimes linked with allergies, can be a cause of snoring. Reducing the stuffiness with steam inhalation before bedtime can be a help, as can seeking out the cause of the allergy. Common factors are dust mites, cigarette smoke, feather bedding and pets. If snoring is more than an occasional concern, finding the underlying cause can bring about considerable health benefits.
For more Snoring Remedies and information on how to get a great nights sleep please visit my Blog.
