Snoring has been derided for centuries, both by the snorers and by those who have to share a room with them. The snoring may be a gentle snore that lasts through the night, or it may be a massive uproar that may last only for a short while. However, it can make life difficult for those effected and their companions. In fact, there are have been several real-life cases where married couples have separated or divorced due to the snoring habit of one of the partners!
Most snorers do not realise that there are cures for snoring. Whether it is diet changes they can make or changes in sleeping postures, or whether they use artificial aids available in the market, snoring can be controlled. It does require a little effort on the part of the snorer, but the end results are generally good.
Change your Sleeping Position
When you are sleeping on your back, your tongue and soft palate collapse towards the back of your throat. This leads to snoring. Sleeping on the side often solves this problem. Or, if you find that you snore more when you sleep on one particular side, try changing positions; it might turn out quite helpful.
Identify your Type of Snoring
Closed-mouth snoring indicates a problem associated with the tongue; open mouth snoring means your throat is responsible for the snoring. Snoring on your back, as we have said earlier, just means you need to change your position. Snoring is a serious problem and you need to really take some active measures to stop it.
Dietary Changes
Often, snorers feel that their snoring gets worse if they have had alcohol or caffeine before they go to sleep. These interfere with their sleep cycle and they are unable to go into a deep sleep, thus keeping others around also awake by snoring loudly. Heavy meals should be avoided at night; the lighter the stomach the better you will sleep at night. If you are overweight, then you need to go on a diet, since it is an established fact that thin people snore less.
Many people have felt that using a memory foam pillow has helped them with their snoring problems. These pillows keep the head on a slightly higher plane and also prevent the nasal passages from getting blocked. A good mattress is one of the best ways of getting a good night’s sleep. Some heavy snorers have found that sleeping in a slightly inclined position helps them to snore less.
Throat Exercises
There are certain throat exercises that can help to keep the throat and the nasal passages clear, thereby eliminating one of the major causes of snoring. Consult your doctor before you begin these exercises.
Medical Cures
Often, the last resort is trying the medical cures which are available today. These range from surgery for correcting abnormalities, CPAP machines to blowing pressurised air into the nose through the night and dental appliances to bring the tongue forward.
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Author Colin McD: Snoring it seems is something that has been with me for many years! However my partner decided it was time to stop, and so the experiments began! I however appear to have been lucky as merely changing to one of the tempur pillows (that I got online from Glasswells, my new favourite store!) and ensuring that I don’t sleep on my back seems to be the cure I need!