Posts Tagged ‘how to stop snoring’

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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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Discover What You Can Do About Your Snoring Problem

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

If you have a snoring problem, it’s important that you take action on it before it becomes more serious. Snoring is often laughed off, but when you’re snoring your body is basically gasping for air.

Snoring is caused by restricted airways. The sound is actually the sound of your throat and soft palate rubbing each other as you try to inhale.

Here are some simple steps you can take to stop your snoring problem:

Keep in Shape

Extra weight can lead to fat deposits in your neck and throat that can restrict your airway. If you’re overweight and snore, this could be the reason.

Allergies

If you suffer from allergies, you should use a nasal decongestant at night rather than an antihistamine. Allergies can cause snoring because they usually include nasal congestion as a symptom. This can hinder your breathing.

Antihistamines are depressants that relax the throat muscles, so while they may help with your allergies they can actually lead to snoring as well. You are better to use a decongestant at night, to clear your breathing without contributing further to your snoring.

Sleeping On Your Side

It’s common for people to only snore when they sleep on their backs – often sleeping on their sides solves the problem.

If your body naturally rolls on your back when you sleep, you can stop this by putting a tennis ball in a sock and pinning it to the back of your pajamas. The discomfort will make you roll on your side automatically if you roll onto your back in the night.

There are other options available such as specialized pillows, nasal strips and throat sprays. Their effectiveness will depend a lot on the underlying cause of your snoring.

It’s always a good idea to check with a health care professional to get their informed opinion before deciding on any more serious treatments for your snoring.

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Do You Need To Have Surgery To Stop Your Snoring?

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

In some cases, common remedies for snoring are just not going to solve the problem. There are cases where the only way to stop snoring is to undergo surgery.

There are a number of types of surgery to stop snoring and the right one will depend on your body and the underlying reason for your snoring.

The type of surgeon you would consult to find out what your best option is would be a otolaryngologist. They specialize in the ears, nose and throat. Unfortunately, many insurance companies consider snoring surgery a cosmetic procedure and don’t cover the costs.

LAUP

One of the most common types of surgery for snoring is uvulopalatoplasty, otherwise known as LAUP. In an LAUP procedure, a laser is used to cut away the uvula (the dangling tissue at the back of your mouth) to reduce its contact with the throat.

If your snoring is caused by the uvula partially blocking your airway, this surgery will often help.

Somnoplasty

Another type of surgery commonly used to help with snoring problems is radio frequency tissue ablation, or RFTA. This is done under the trade name “Somnoplasty” and was only recently approved by the FDA.

RFTA is another way of reducing the size of the uvula, minimizing its contact with the throat. With RFTA, multiple sessions may be necessary before you see results. Because it is so new, there is not a lot of data published on it yet.

Another recent procedure is known as Coblation-Channeling. This methods uses radio frequencies to reduce the size of tissue in the airway, which may be obstructing your breathing. This is even newer that RFTA, however, so there is not much data published on it yet either.

Repose

Yet another recent procedure is called tongue suspension, going under the trade name Repose. This type of surgery keeps your tongue from falling back and blocking the airway during sleep.

A small screw is inserted into the lower jaw bone and stitches are placed below the tongue. This helps to keep the tongue in place at night.

The last procedure we’ll look at is nasal deviation surgery. Blockages in the nose or a deviated septum can cause restricted breathing and lead to snoring. This surgery helps to remove those blockages.

An interesting side effect of this surgery is that it also helps to improve your breathing during the day. For that reason, it is often covered by medical insurance policies.

As with any serious procedure, you need to get professional advice before considering anything. Talk to a health care professional about your snoring to get an informed opinion of the best choice of treatment for you.

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