A sound that causes the people around you to lose sleep, waking with a sore throat and a fear of falling asleep around others; everyone knows about these problems because snoring affects so many people. According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 90 million adults in America currently snore or have had problems with it at some time. How do you treat snoring?
Allergens and Environment
Snoring can present a real struggle in a person’s life. The embarrassment from the volume, the uncomfortable dry throat that usually follows and the feeling of helplessness make it a nightmare. However, the cause of your snoring may not be what you think.
Allergens can cause an inflamed nasal and oral airway. These pathways that are normally filled with air – promoting easy breathing and quiet sleep – can become irritated and swollen. This tightens the airways and can lead turbulent noisy airflow (ie-snoring).
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes airways to tighten and close off. This reduces breathing or even stops it for short periods during sleep. This usually results in grunting, gasping and snoring as the person tries to clear their airway and resume normal breathing.
How to Treat It
Thankfully, most cases of snoring are treatable today. Just because a person has snored their entire life does not mean they have to snore forever. Something as simple as a small lifestyle change can help. Below are a few simple solutions that may put this issue behind you, but it is important to see a specialist to discuss which route to take.
Since allergens, diet or medication may be contributing to the problem, work to remove the possible triggers. Simple solutions would be to stop drinking alcohol within four hours of bedtime, don’t take sedatives in the evening, keep your bedroom, linens and carpets clean so they are less likely to carry dust or mold.
Since the position you sleep in can cause snoring, make some adjustments to the way you sleep. The way your body is aligned can affect your throat, causing the muscles to relax too much, which gives way for snoring. Lying down in the same position for too long can also cause the blood to rush into the nose, which can result in labored nasal breathing.
Weight can also contribute to your snoring problem. Seven out of 10 people suffering from sleep apnea are obese. Your healthcare provider will evaluate if your weight is contributing to your snoring problem. A simple change in diet and lifestyle could mean safe, sounder sleep for everyone involved.
Since there are so many possible causes, most having to do with the ears, nose and throat, it is important to find the diagnosis that will make recovery possible. Schedule an appointment with an ENT doctor in Princeton to find the solution for your issues. Once you learn the source of the problem, the specialist can walk you through the right way to reduce or resolve your snoring.
