What is Snoring and What Happens if Your Partner Snores?

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory organs such as the larynx due to improper air flow during sleeping. It is one of the main causes of sleep deprivation in adults. A lack of proper sleep may cause a large number of potential health issues, including drowsiness during waking hours, irritability, lack of focus and concentration, and decreased libido.

What Causes Snoring?

There are many factors that can potentially cause snoring to occur. One of the primary causes of snoring is the relaxation of the soft tissues inside your nose, causing vibrations due to the shortened passage for airflow. In addition to this, there are also other factors that can cause snoring, including:

• Weakness in the throat, which causes it to collapse during sleep

• Improper position of the jaw, usually caused by tension in facial muscles

• Obesity, with fat deposits around the throat

• Obstruction of the passageway inside the nose

• Consuming alcohol and other drugs which relax the throat muscles

• Improper sleeping position

Some patients may experience a mild sore or scratchy throat over the next 24 to 48 hours after the treatment, but gargling with warm salt water and staying hydrated can help ease this discomfort.

How Can You Ease Your Snoring Problem?

While snoring is a minor irritant and cannot be completely cured, there are multiple ways to help ease the problem of snoring without having to resort to taking pills and other medications. Do keep in mind that if your partner remains snoring unbearably, even after the application of these techniques, it will be best to talk to a doctor to see if there are any serious respiratory problems.

Change Your Sleeping Position

Your sleeping position can have a significant impact on your snoring habits. Those who lie on their back usually have the soft palate and the base collapse to the posterior wall of the throat, which blocks off the passage for air. When air is forced through the passage, it causes a vibrating sound to emanate from the throat.

A simple trick is to sleep on your side. Those who have difficulty sleeping on their sides can use a body pillow to support the weight of their body while sleeping.

Losing Weight

Someone who is overweight has a higher chance of snoring than someone who isn’t. When you put on a lot of weight, particularly around the neck, it constricts the internal diameter of the throat, making it more likely to collapse and triggers the sound of snoring. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit can help open up the passage way and potentially decrease snoring.

Avoiding Alcohol and Sedatives

Alcohol and other sedatives usually relax the muscles and causes the base of the tongue to collapse onto the throat, triggering the snoring reflex. In some cases, even people who do not snore may end up snoring the evening after consuming alcohol. It is best to avoid alcohol at least four to five hours before going to sleep.

Clearing Nasal Passageways

With the high levels of pollution around us, our nasal passages tend to clog up. Other factors such as catching a cold or an allergy can also reduce the width of the nasal passage. If you have blocked nasal passages, clear them by using over-the-counter drops and sprays. A hot shower before bed can also clear the nasal passage and refreshes you for better sleep.

Contact Our Office

If you have problems snoring and its affecting the lives of those around you, it may be time to get some help. Contact the Snores Experts to learn more about how you can ease your snoring problem and live more comfortably.