Does your partner wear earplugs to ward off the blows of your nightly, nasally inhales? Is your snoring the rule, not the exception? Is your snoring a common joke among family members?
These are all signs that you have a snoring problem. Why do we call it a problem? For one, it’s disruptive – maybe not for you, but certainly for anyone who has to sleep in the same room (or house) as you. Secondly, snoring may also be the primary sign of a deeper underlying condition that can impact your quality of life.
The difference between occasional snoring and a snoring problem are fairly easy to identify:
When it is a problem, it’s definitely worth look at a little closer to see what might causing it, and how you might prevent it.
There are many things that can cause snoring, and finding out if there is a primary reason for your snoring is the easiest way to inhibit it.
For example, excessive snoring is one of the primary signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is when you repeatedly stop breathing at night. OSA has significant long term effects on your health, such as:
Obesity can also be a primary factor in your snoring, as it narrows the breathing canal, and losing weight may also cut reduce your snoring.
Allergies and smoking can irritate the lining of the throat, narrowing it, and causing snoring. Alcohol can also relax the breathing muscles in the throat, which causes snoring.
Sleep evaluation, consultation, or research in regard to sleep apnea. In other words, find out if you have it or not. If you have sleep apnea, a CPAP machine will likely completely eliminate your snoring. It certainly did for several known snorers in my family.
If you enjoy a night cap (or two) before bed, try eliminating it from your nightly routine and see if your snoring improves.
While it’s certainly easier said than done, cutting back on smoking may make a big difference in your snoring habits, as you eliminate the irritant (smoke) which causes/contributes to your snoring.
Like smoking, losing weight is easier said than done. However, if you are losing weight, try and evaluate (asking your partner) whether or not your snoring has improved.
This is not ideal for comfort, but chin straps can be extremely effective for snoring that is caused by being a “mouth breather” at night. If you are a restless sleeper, this solution may not be for you. But if you can sleep through anything, a chin strap is an inexpensive, quick fix.
Like a chin strap, this solution may not be ideal for picky sleepers or those of you who have your special pillow. Anti-snoring pillow elevate the head, which can significantly reduce snoring.
I know what you are thinking, how do you avoid moving onto your back while you are sleeping? Well, there’s no magic trick. Your best bet is to give yourself every incentive to stay on your side: try and fall asleep on your side, use a pillow between your legs, change sleep position of your arms legs (e.g. bending them) to prevent rolling onto your back.
If you would like to know more about your snoring and its causes, please click the orange button below to talk with a sleep professional.