5 Easy Ways to Prevent Snoring

January 20th, 2010 Posted in Anxiety and Depression

Snoring is a medical condition that not only affects the person doing the snoring; it can mean a sleepless night for the co-sleeper too. It gets even worse because some people snore so loud at night that they can keep the whole house awake! It doesn’t matter if you are the person doing the snoring or if you are the one trying to cover your ears, you can read on to familiarize yourself with five easy ways to Prevent Snoring for good.

Lose Weight: While not everyone who snores is overweight, a good percentage of men and women are. Being overweight or obese can not only lead to a handful of other health problems, but it can be the main cause of your snoring. Excess weight increases the risk of snoring because it results in a narrowed airway. Losing weight will not only increase your overall health and wellness, but it will open your airways and lessen the risk of nightly snoring.

Avoid Smoking: It is well-known that smoking cigarettes can lead to a number of respiratory problems, but it can also cause the congestion of your nose and lungs. This congestion can increase your risk of nightly snoring. Get started by reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke; you should notice a decrease in your snoring frequency. After completely eliminating cigarettes from your life, you should be able to prevent snoring long-term. If you don’t smoke, avoid all second-hand smoke.

Change Your Sleep Positions: Snoring is caused by the blockage of airways and the noise results from the tissues knocking against your throat. The most common cause of snoring is due to the relaxation of the throat, tongue, and mouth muscles at night; sometimes they relax too much. By changing the way you sleep, you can influence their relaxation and the position of it. Hopefully, you will have more open airways. Get started by opting to sleep on your side instead of your back and by slightly elevating your head.

Use Over-the-Counter Products: There are many over-the-counter products designed to prevent snoring. For example, you can buy a snoring pillow, nasal sprays, nasal strips, mouthpieces and more. Snoring Mouthpieces cost the most money, but they typically have the best results. They are constructed from soft plastic that adjusts your jaw position to prevent your tongue or throat muscles from blocking your windpipe. Nasal strips are popular due to being safe and affordable; they have adhesive backing that lifts up the sides of your nose to give a more open path of air to the lungs and throat.

Speak to Your Doctor: In most cases, you can prevent snoring by trying an over-the-counter product or a home remedy; however, snoring can also be the cause of a more serious condition, such as sleep apnea. Whether you go to your doctor right from the start or after unsuccessfully trying home remedies or over-the-counter products, you will be on your way to long-term relief. While typically reserved for as a last resort, surgery may be the best way to prevent your snoring.