1. Cover Your Ears!
Loud, habitual snoring not only disrupts your sleep patterns, but also keeps your partner awake for hours on end. A spouse may end up sleeping in a different room if a partner's snoring keeps her up at night. If you're the snoring culprit, you may not realize the strain you're putting on your household. Finding the cause and treating the issue can lead to domestic bliss.
2. Snoring Is More than Just a Nuisance
You may have the false impression that snoring doesn't require medical attention. In fact, snoring can lead to a wide range of problems if left untreated. People who snore on a regular basis are at a higher risk for developing more serious health issues, including high blood pressure and stroke. Additionally, habitual snorers often suffer from fatigue and irritability due to their disruptive sleep patterns. Loud snoring with periods of blocked breathing is a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has a detrimental effect on the heart by making it work harder during episodes of this disorder.
3. Beat the Bulge, Stop Snoring
Most people snore due to the size of their air passages. If you have a very narrow airway, your breathing triggers the tissues in your mouth to vibrate, causing that snoring sound. An overweight person has a smaller airway than an average sized person due to the bulk around the neck. Many people find that if they lose weight, their airway opens more and the snoring stops.
4. Nose Strips: Not Pretty, But They Work
To prevent breathing through the mouth, use nasal strips. Nasal strips, such as Breathe Right Nose Strips, go on the bridge of your nose at bedtime and help open up the nasal passages. When your nasal passages are open, you're less likely to snore because you don't breathe through your mouth as much. Pick the correct size strips for your nose and then try them for several nights. If your partner doesn't notice a change in your snoring, then you may need to consult your physician.
5. An ENT Can Help
If your family doctor suspects nasal problems as the cause of your snoring, he may decide to send you to an ear, nose and throat specialist. An ENT will run a series of diagnostic tests to determine whether a deviated septum or nasal congestion is the cause of your snoring. Also, an ENT may recommend throat or tongue muscle surgeries to treat sleep apnea. After successfully treating these medical issues, your snoring problem should cease.
