Research has shown that as many as 45 percent of adults experience snoring occasionally. Though very common, snoring can cause problems for both the snorer and his or her family members. It may lead to poor sleep and even marriage problems. Find out what you can do to help stop your snoring and get a good night’s rest for both you and your bed partner.
Vibrations in the nose and throat can cause snoring. When you are sleeping, the muscles toward the back of the roof of your mouth and the back of the tongue relax. When you breathe, the airflow can cause these muscles to vibrate against the back of the throat, which produces the snoring sound. At night, the inside of the nose will swell. This can also lead to turbulent airflow resulting in snoring.
Natural Cures for Snoring
Making simple lifestyle changes can often reduce snoring. However, if you experience gasping in your sleep, if you stop breathing altogether, or if you feel like you are choking in your sleep, you may have a problem known as sleep apnea. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you should be evaluated by a physician. In addition, check with your doctor before using any over-the-counter snoring aids or sleep aids, as many of these products are not evaluated by the FDA and are not appropriate for all patients.
Sleeping in the side-lying position has been found to significantly reduce snoring for some people. To keep yourself from turning onto your back, you may try sleeping against a body pillow. Allergens in your pillows can also contribute to snoring. It may help to change pillows approximately every three months, clean them often and keep pets out of the bedroom. Dust mites and pet dander can accumulate in your pillow and make snoring worse.
A stuffy nose may also increase snoring. A clogged or inflamed nose will have narrower nasal passages, which are more likely to produce the snoring sound. A hot shower, saltwater nose rinse, or nasal strips may help with a stuffy nose. Decongestants may also be helpful if a congested nose is causing your snoring. Again, over-the-counter meds should be used with caution.
Some other tips to prevent snoring include losing weight if you are overweight, quitting smoking, limiting the use of alcohol and sedatives before bed, and increasing your fluid intake.
Otolaryngologist: A Nose and Throat Specialist
If these at-home remedies do not help reduce your snoring, you may benefit from seeing a specialist in Monroe. An ear, nose and throat doctor, or ENT, will be able to tell if you have airway problems, which may require additional treatment. A qualified ENT can typically offer you several options to cure your snoring. Medications may be prescribed to calm nasal passage inflammation, or minimally invasive procedures may be discussed as an option to open the airway. The important thing to remember is to get an accurate diagnosis – once you know what is causing your snoring problem, you can make a plan to solve it.
