We all snore from time to time but, for some people, it becomes a serious problem
What many people do not realize is that frequent snoring could be more than just a nuisance – it could be an indication of a serious problem
Understanding Why You Snore
In most cases, snoring is caused by the narrowing of the airway during sleep.
As your airway narrows, air flowing through the passageway causes the tissues in your throat to vibrate – this is what produces the sound.
Though this is how snoring works in most cases, there are some different things which can cause the airway to narrow, thus leading you to snore.
Something as simple as sleeping in a particular position can cause you to snore or it could be something more serious.
Another potential cause for your snoring is a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ.
This condition occurs when the joint connecting the upper and lower jaw fails to work properly, causing a misalignment which could affect the tissues in your throat.
Snoring can also be caused by enlarged tonsils, an elongated soft palate, a relaxed tongue, or nasal congestion. Consuming alcohol before bed or using tobacco products could also cause you to snore.
Other factor are:-
Age
Age is one factor that causes snoring and more especially those people who have reached the middle age or even beyond. The reason why you snore at this age is because your throat has become narrow and those muscle tones within the throat have decreased to an extent that they close at night making you to snore. But there is nothing that one can do with old age and other issues like lifestyle changes, throat exercises, or even new bedtime routines. Anti-snoring devices are very important in such a case because they help reduce snoring during sleep
The sleeping posture
What is your sleeping posture? Sleeping on your back means that there are high chances that you will snore at night because this posture blocks the airways reducing it. If you know that you snore because you sleep in a bad posture ensure you change.
Smoking, alcohol intake and medications
Alcohol intake, medications and smoking are some of the factors that can make one to snore. Medications such as diazepam and lorazepam can cause snoring because they increase muscle relaxation. Avoid smoking and use of alcohol if you want to avoid snoring during the night.
How to prevent snoring
Change your sleeping position
It is very important for you to know the position in which you sleep during the night. Ensure you elevate your head at least four inches so that you can make sleeping easy and in this way you will not be able to snore. Ensure you purchase pillows that are specifically designed to prevent snoring. During sleeping ensure that you’re the neck muscles are relaxed and that they are not crimped as this may cause snoring.
Ensure the nasal passages are cleared
Nasal passages should be cleared and failure to which there are high chances that you will snore while sleeping. In case you find that your nose is stuffy, ensure you clean the sinuses using saline and you should do this before you go to bed to sleep. Some of the other things that can assist you breathe well while sleeping are use of the neti pot, nasal strips and nasal decongestant. These snoring aids help one to sleep comfortably without necessarily having to snore.
Use anti-snoring mouth appliance
These appliances are made in a way that they will bring your tongue and lower jaw forward during sleep preventing one from snoring. Use of the snoring mouthpiece helps a lot and more especially in opening the airway during sleep.
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