Snoring 101: Is it a Big Deal? 7 at Home Remedies

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It’s one of those human things that can be embarrassing, annoying, funny and for some, downright dangerous. We’re talking about snoring. If you or a loved one have a tendency to snore, it’s important to educate yourself about when snoring is a light annoyance and when it can be a symptom of a serious sleep disorder. We’re here to help you understand all things snoring, in PrimeHealth Snoring 101.

What is snoring?

Snoring occurs when air can’t move freely through your nose and throat while you’re asleep. When the airflow is inhibited, it causes the throat and nasal tissues to vibrate, producing the familiar snoring sound.

It’s common for a person’s neck muscles to relax during sleep, but when these muscles relax too much –and particularly when this is combined with tissue flabbiness that can occur with aging – it blocks part of or all of our upper airway, and snoring is the result.

Who snores?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, if you suffer from it, you’re in good company: About 90 million Americans are making the hoarse breathing noises that are the hallmark of snoring. About 50% of the population will snore at some point in their lives, whether it’s from sinus congestion, a tendency to sleep on your back, or a more chronic condition. If you have pets, you’ve probably even heard them snore!

Men are more likely to snore than women, although plenty of women snore. SleepEducation.org says that about 40 percent of adult males and 24 percent of adult females are regular, chronic snorers. Interestingly, men are less likely to snore after the age of 70.

It’s interesting to note that pregnant women, who may have excess tissue around their neck and throat area, are more likely to snore. Even babies occasionally snore ― which is likely more endearing than when your partner is “sawing logs” on the pillow next to you, preventing you from getting back to sleep!

Why do people snore?

There are both structural and situational reasons why people snore. Physically, having a large tongue, enlarged tonsils, or carrying excess weight around the neck factors increase chances of snoring. Even the anatomy of your jaw or the shape of your nose can contribute to a tendency to snore.

Situationally, reasons for snoring include nasal or sinus congestion, intoxication, smoking, medications, being overweight or in poor physical shape, and sleep position. All of these factors can contribute to an increased likelihood of doing it.

Age and gender also come into play. As we age, we’re more likely to snore. Further, because men tend to have narrower airways, men are more likely to snore than women. SIt runs in families, so if your parents and siblings all snore – you might be next.

How can I stop?

Here are our snoring 101 at-home remedies:

  1.       Roll onto your side. Back sleepers are more likely to snore because the tongue relaxes toward the throat, which can partially obstruct the airway. If you roll onto your side, snoring should subside.
  2.       If you’re overweight, focus on losing weight. The extra throat tissue present in overweight people contributes to snoring. Losing that tissue can reduce snoring.
  3.       Elevate the head of your bed. Just a 4-inch elevation may help reduce snoring.
  4.       Dilate nasal tissues. Try opening the nasal passageway, either internally with a nasal dilator such as Mute, or externally with adhesive nasal strips such as Breathe Right strips that are applied to the bridge of the nose to help increase airflow through the nose.
  5.       Treat allergies or congestion. Address ongoing nasal congestion, either through SLIT, medication, or in severe cases, through surgical correction of a deviated septum.
  6.       Quit smoking. In addition to the myriad other health benefits, when you quit smoking, you lower your likelihood of snoring.
  7.       Say no to that nightcap. Consuming alcoholic beverages within two hours of sleep can increase your likelihood of snoring. Medications such as muscle relaxers that depress the central nervous system can cause throat tissues to relax excessively, leading to—you guessed it—a higher incidence of snoring.

When is it a cause for concern?

Light snoring—the kind that easily resolves by changing sleep position, dilating nasal passages or elevating the head of your bed—isn’t a cause for concern, though it may annoy your partner. When snoring is chronic and you suffer from fatigue and sleepiness during the day even after sleeping for 8+ hours, your snoring could be a medical condition called obstructive sleep apnea. If you’re a chronic snorer and suspect you may suffer from this serious sleep disorder, discuss the symptoms with your doctor immediately. We’ll delve into the details of obstructive sleep apnea in our next blog post.

Now that you’ve completed our snoring 101 course, schedule a free consultation to learn how it may be impacting your health.

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