The Definitive Guide to Snoring Causes and Cures

Imagine that you’re already ready for sleep. You already took a warm bath, drank a warm glass of milk and slipped into your pajamas, hoping to spend a restful night under the covers of your comfortable bed. You close your eyes and start counting sheep when your eyes pop open because you hear a loud rumbling side coming from the left corner of your bed. One swift peek and you realize that your partner has started snoring again. Inevitably, you are going to spend the night awake and trying to zone out from your partner. You promise to wake up the next day in hopes of finding snoring causes that will help you understand the condition.

Snoring is defined as the “the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping”. Although there are situations wherein snoring is perceived to be soft and minimal in volume, there are also cases where it becomes annoying and loud. There are people who consider snoring as a normal occurrence but experts note that snoring can actually be a first sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What Are The Causes of  Snoring?

Before determining the possible intervention to get rid of snoring, it is also important to determine what causes the snores in the first place in order to provide the best treatment that will address the root of the problem. In general, an obstruction in the airflow of the mouth and the nose is the root of snoring. Specifically, there are numerous reasons that can easily cause snoring. The first one is the obstruction in the nasal airways. When the nasal passages are partially or fully blocked, a person needs to put on additional effort in order to transfer air through them during sleep. When this occurs, the soft tissues found in the throat begin the collapse, which consequently results to snoring. This is also a common occurrence for people who have allergies and sinus infection. This is also a common cause for those with deviated septums and nasal polyps, who do not only snore but also suffer from sleep deprivation because of the nasal obstruction.

Poor muscle tone for the muscles found in the tongue and in the throat can also lead to snoring. When the muscles in these areas are relaxed instead of contracted, it tends to collapse and obstruct the airway. Poor muscle tone can be brought about by sleeping pills, aging, alcohol and deep sleep. Another cause of snoring is having bulky throat tissue and those with large adenoids and tonsils. Having a soft palate and a long uvula can also result to snoring as it can block the opening found in the back of the throat. During sleep, these oral structures tend to vibrate and bump into each other during sleep, thereby obstructing the airway. Having a jaw that is dislocated, fat found in and around the throat and those with obstructive sleep apnea are also known to result to snoring.

What Are The risk factors and Health Risks of Snoring?

Before we dissect the different snoring cures, which can help you get rid of your snoring and the snores of the people you love, you also need to understand what factors increase the risk that you snore and the effects of snoring on your health. There are different risk factors for snoring. People, who drink alcohol, have nasal problems, who are males, who are overweight and those with narrow airways are highly likely to snore in their sleep compared to those who don’t. Meanwhile, those who snore in a regular basis also tend to face serious health problems if their snoring is not intervened. The illness called Obstructive sleep apnea is typically associated with chronic snoring and may pose several health risks such as low blood oxygen levels, which consequently, also leads to daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea, enlargement of the heart, high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack. Those who are also chronic snorers tend to suffer from sleep deprivation, interrupted breathing, impaired libido and diabetes. Snoring tends to increase the quality of life of those who snore on a regular basis.

Snoring Cures

The most common intervention designed for smokers is lifestyle changes. Those who are obese are advised to lose weight as the fat in their throat tends to block the airway while those who smoke are told to stop smoking due to the fact that smoking weakens and blocks the throat. Sleeping on the side instead of on their back is also recommended as it avoids the tongue from blocking the throat. Dental appliances for people who snore are also specially created in order to treat their condition. These devices, which are mainly called the mandibular advancement splints, help push the lower jaw forward slightly and advance the tongue forward. You have the option to purchase these dental appliances over the counter or through prescription. The big difference is that while over the counter mandibular advancement splints are cheaper, they also come in a universal size. If you don’t fit the size requirement then it won’t get rid of the snores. Meanwhile, dental appliances that are prescribed can be a little bit expensive but they are fitted perfectly for your jaw.

The CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) machine is also a treatment because it controls snoring and sleep apnea by pumping a controlled stream of air to the mouth or nose. Surgery can be recommended for those who want to get snoring over and done with. It will widen the airway by removing the tissues typically found in the back of the throat such as the pharynx and the uvula. There are also over the counter medications for those who snore such as the combined pharmacological effects of the pseudoephedrine and dompreridone, which shows a 95% success rate to relieve severe snoring.

If you’re one to go for all-natural methods then by all means, you can also try acupressure, acupuncture and several herbal pills. These are believed to relieve snoring and can even help you in other areas as well such as the overall health.

Whether you are a wife or a husband concerned for your partner’s sleeping habits and your own sleep or you are simply aware of your snoring problems and you want to find snoring cures for them, it is still important that you visit a doctor for any breathing problems first.