Posts Tagged ‘allergies’

5 Common Causes Of Snoring

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Snoring can be caused by a number of things and if you’re looking for a way to stop snoring, the first step is to figure out the cause.

There are 5 common causes for snoring…

  1. Drinking Alcohol

    If you regularly drink alcohol, you should check to see if your snoring is a problem on a night when you don’t drink anything.

    Alcohol is a depressant and can contribute to snoring because it relaxes the muscles in your neck and throat. This relaxation is more advanced than with regular sleep and this can cause your airways to become restricted.

    If you snore only when you’ve been drinking, the obvious solution is to stop drinking. If that isn’t an option, at least have your last drink more than 4 hours before you go to sleep.

  2. Sleeping on Your Back

    Many snorers only have a problem when they’re sleeping on their back. The solution to this is to train your body to sleep on your side.

    There are plenty of devices that help with this, but they’re mostly variations of a home-grown remedy.

    Put a tennis ball in a sock and pin it to the back of your pajamas. When you roll onto your back, the discomfort will make you naturally roll back onto your side.

  3. Are You Overweight?

    Excess weight can lead to snoring. When you’re overweight, you can get fatty tissue in your neck and throat area which can put a strain on your airway and restrict your breathing. In this case, the obvious solution is to lose some of the extra weight.

  4. Do You Use Antihistamines or Sleeping Pills?

    These products can have a similar effect to alcohol. They relax your throat muscles more than normal sleep would and this can lead to snoring problems.

  5. Do You Suffer from Allergies?

    Allergies can result in nasal congestion. This can make it difficult for your body to get the necessary oxygen.

    The problem is, antihistamines can also contribute to snoring so the best solution is to just take a decongestant rather than an antihistamine.

These are some of the more common causes of snoring, but you should talk to a health care professional to get an informed opinion of what’s causing your snoring and the best solution for it.

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The Link Between Snoring And Allergies Revealed

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

The noise that we all associate with snoring is a results of trying to force air through block or partially blocked airways. While it isn’t an illness in itself, snoring is often a symptom of other conditions one of which could be an allergic reaction.

Allergic rhinitis is a condition where the membrane lining the throat and nose becomes inflamed. It’s often set off by an allergic reaction to something that is inhaled. You’ve probably heard of seasonal allergic rhinitis – it’s more commonly known as hayfever.

When the lining becomes inflamed, it causes the airway to be blocked which can lead to snoring.

Hayfever is usually caused by trees, grass or other plant pollen and it’s usually a problem in the spring and summer. If you suffer from it all year (known as perennial allergic rhinitis) it’s often due to dust, dust mites, mould spores or pet fur.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are familiar to most people:

  • itchy eyes and nose
  • sneezing
  • red, watery eyes
  • runny or plugged nose
  • headache
  • and of course, snoring

If you haven’t been able to figure out what’s causing your hayfever, your doctor may give you a skin-prick test to determine exactly what is causing it. Even then, the cause is not always easy to determine so you may not be able to get rid of the cause.

In these cases, you’ll probably turn to some type of allergy medication. The problem with these medications, as it related to snoring, is that many of them contain antihistamines.

Antihistamines are often effective at treating allergies, but they’re also a depressant. As such, they can lead to the muscles in your throat and neck becoming more relaxed than normal while you sleep. When these muscles relax, it can lead to more severe snoring than normal.

If you’re suffering from allergies and are snoring at night, it’s best to avoid antihistamines before going to bed. If you need to use any medication, try to stick to a nasal decongestant, which can help your breathing while not contributing further to a snoring problem.

As with any health concerns, if you suspect you suffer from allergies or have a snoring problem you should always consult with a health care professional to get their informed opinion.

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