Snoring
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Next week is Snoring Week, but what is it, why does it happen and most importantly how do you stop it?
What is snoring?
A person snores because the airways at the back of their throats become obstructed.
Normally, the airways vibrate when you breathe, but when the airways are blocked the air cannot flow properly and the results is can be snorting or snuffling sounds. Sometimes these can be very loud!
The causes
Most commonly something as simple as sleeping position can cause someone to snore. This is most likely if you sleep on your back, as it means that your tongue and chin will relax and squash your airways.
Snoring could also be caused by nasal problems such as a blocked nose, especially common when people are ill or suffer from hay fever.
Another common reason is excess weight around the throat area. Extra fat around the throat, especially on the chin, presses down on to the throat and causes obstructions.
If you smoke this can also cause you to snore. This is because smoking irritates the lining of the nose, which then causes the throat to swell. The more cigarettes smoked the more the nose gets congested which makes snoring even worse.
Sleepless nights
In really extreme cases a person’s snoring can be so bad that they wake themselves up and deprive themselves of sleep. This can have negative effects on their daily lives such as tiredness, irritation and lack of focus.
Snoring can also be quite a serious health issue. A type of snoring known as ‘obstructive sleep apnea’ means that a person will suffer from complete blockage of their air passages. This can last for as long as 10 seconds at a time! Obstructive sleep apnoea could leave people gasping for breath in the middle of the night.
Snore no more
Snoring can also affect those sleeping near you. If you snore loudly then it’s likely that someone in your family will soon let you know!
Although there isn’t a cure for snoring, it can be controlled. Why not think about these options?
- Sleeping on your side with a good firm pillow that elevates your head slightly will stop your tongue or any extra bodily weight from pressing down on to your throat.
- Make sure your bedroom has the proper humidity - you may need to add a humidifier to the furnace or put a cold water vaporizer in your bedroom.
- If you have allergies try tackling them too.
- Check with your doctor to make sure you don’t have a sinus or tonsil infection
- If you are overweight, ask your doctor to help you control your weight using a well balanced diet. Read some tips on eating healthily.
- Exercising can help. Some people want to exercise but find it boring - try out these alternatives.
- Alcohol and smoking can affect sleeping and breathing too – so try to cut down or quit altogether.
- Some people may be helped by a band-aid product that is placed over the bridge of the nose to help open the nasal passages.
But it's not just humans. Pets snore too..Check out this pug snoring - with his eyes open!
British Snoring Week
It is National Stop Snoring Week on 20th-25th April. It’s an annual event that aims to give more advice and information to people who suffer from snoring.
Want to find out what kind of snorer you are and the right treatment to control it? Visit British Snoring.
