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Advice and cures for snoring

snoring
(13 Jul 2007)

A good night’s sleep is not the only thing that you and your partner lose when one of you has a snoring problem. Most partners choose to sleep apart when snoring is a major disturbance, putting distance in place of closeness, and ultimately, it is the emotional well being of the couple that suffers the most. Understanding what causes snoring is important when we have to find natural snoring remedies to treat the condition.




Reduced flow of air through the nose because of congestion, a deviated nasal septum, large tonsils, and narrow paths of air flow in the throat are some of the physical conditions that may lead to snoring. While these may be beyond our control, other factors such as being overweight, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleeping positions are well within our control. Solutions to stop snoring include making some lifestyle changes to avoid stress, losing weight, and eating healthy food. What causes snoring in children is often related to a faulty alignment of the jaw or a small jaw. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids could also cause snoring in children.

A more serious aspect of snoring is that it is often a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the passage of air in the throat is blocked by the tongue or the soft palate or enlarged tonsils. Apnea occurs when a person stops breathing for a few seconds or breathes in less air frequently during sleep, resulting in disturbed sleep. In the long-term, this condition may lead to high blood pressure and even heart disease.

Snoring relief can also be achieved by using various anti-snoring devices such as chin straps that are available in the market. Sprays for the throat and nose have helped many people to stop snoring. Oral strips and nasal strips can provide relief to snorers and their partners by keeping the air passages open, but these are not permanent cures. For those in search of natural snoring remedies, the easiest piece of advice to follow is to avoid sleeping on the back and learn to sleep on the side. Among natural snoring remedies, snore balls that prevent people from sleeping on their back have been used by many who find that they automatically move to sleep on their back when they are fast asleep. Sleep position monitors that beep when a person moves to a position that induces snoring, enable sleepers to practice sleeping on his/her side.

People who avoid drinking alcohol close to bedtime have found that their snoring is considerably reduced. Sleeping pills and other muscle relaxants tend to relax the neck muscles, which may trigger snoring. Such medication can be omitted with the guidance of a physician. Anti-snoring sprays work by tightening the muscles in the throat. There are also sprays that help reduce the vibration that causes snoring by covering the walls of the pathways through which air passes with a lubricant.

What causes snoring in men and is it different from the causes of snoring in women and children is a question often asked. Although twice as many men snore as there women snorers, what causes snoring in men like obesity or stress is likely to affect women too. But there are some gender specific reasons like pregnancy, hormonal changes, and menopause that are causes of snoring in women. During pregnancy, women tend to put on more weight and this may lead to snoring. Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy as well as during menopause could be the cause of snoring too.

Herbal cures for snoring are popular among natural snoring remedies. These include a mixture of ginger and honey, which helps to keep air passages clear and wide. Ginger extracts have been used in sprays to decongest nasal airways. Steam inhalation is another technique that uses essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint oil to remove congestion in the nasal passages.

answered by S S on 22 Mar 2011, 2:57:26

 

Snoring is a common condition that can affect people at any age especially obese people snore more, some people snore due to some allergic triggers in their bed room or when they have a sinus infection. Deformities of the nose such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps can also cause obstruction of nasal airways and result in snoring.

Prevention and Cure for Snoring:

  • Sleep on your side rather than your back.Tilt the head of your bed upwards few inches may help in snoring.
  • Avoid alcohol for at least four hours and do not have heavy meals or snacks for three hours before going to bed.
  • Establish regular sleeping patterns.
  • Some people need to lose weight by making some changes in diets and exercise. Excess weight in the neck and chest puts pressure on the breathing passage.
  • It may be helpful to remove allergy triggers (stuffed animals, pets, and feather/down pillows and comforters) from the person's bedroom.
  • Proper homeopathic medicine selected according to totality of symptom and constitution of patient will give relief.
  • If snoring is vigorous and obstruction is there surgery may be solution.
answered by Dr on 19 Jul 2007, 6:11:42

 

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