How to Prevent Snoring Problems

Excessive snoring is a problem that is quite common and can affect people of all ages, but it is more prevalent among older people, men, and those who are overweight. When the air that flows through the mouth and nose is obstructed, the walls of the throat can vibrate, resulting in snoring. Among the causes of this kind of obstruction are bulky throat tissue, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, a long soft palate, or the tongue and throat having poor muscle tone. Snoring problems become more likely if you sleep on your back instead of your stomach or side, since gravity can pull the palate and tongue backwards.

Snoring can also be caused by some medications and alcohol because they may relax some muscles. People who are sleeping nearby are bothered by someone who snores excessively, but the snorer also will often feel tired despite sleeping a long time. If you snore excessively you also are more likely to have a serious health concern, such as sleep apnea. This condition can cause you to stop breathing for more than ten seconds when your airway gets totally blocked, and this can occur many times over the course of a night.

If you have this disorder you may also wake up frequently, or have lowered levels of oxygen, which could lead you to have higher blood pressure and be more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke. When considering how to prevent snoring problems, you need to be aware that the more than 300 anti-snoring devices that are on the market do little to address the underlying problems that cause excessive snoring to occur. You should first try to address these problems by changing aspects of your behavior and lifestyle. These changes include losing weight, sleeping on your side, avoiding alcohol and snacks at least four hours before sleep, and tilting the head of your bed up a few inches. If you have difficulty staying on your side while sleeping, try to sleep with a tennis ball attached to the back of your pajamas.

This will usually keep you on your side, and eventually you won’t need the ball. If these behavior changes don’t stop your snoring problems, go on the Internet to find out about how to prevent snoring by using devices such as ones that move your jaw forward or hold your nose open. If all else fails you may need surgery, such as somnoplasty to shrink excessive tissue or UPPP to tighten the tissues of the palate and throat.