If you are a victim of snoring, your rattling at night is likely to keep the entire household from having a good night’s sleep. When you’ve been banished to the couch o everyone else is heading to remote regions of your home, you know you have a problem. On the other hand, you may not even be aware of your problem at night if you are on your own. The Mayo Clinic notes that a variety of symptoms could indicate that you are snoring in your sleep. You may be dealing with a host of problems and have no idea that they are related to snoring. If you find yourself gasping to the point of waking yourself up in the night, snoring could be at the root of the problem. You could also find yourself experiencing high blood pressure, chest pains fro time to time, or a sore throat. Difficulty maintaining focus and extreme fatigue on a daily basis, regardless of the amount of sleep you have, are other indicators that snoring could be disrupting your sleep. It is a nuisance that no one wants to deal with, especially family members, and it could indicate a more serious problem.
The Trouble with Snoring
According to the National Sleep Foundation, at least 90 million Americans suffer from snoring, proving that you are not alone. While you might think that your snoring problem is mainly an annoyance, there is the possibility that you have an underlying condition that needs to be addressed before you find yourself facing a major health crisis. Snoring could be caused by an obstruction of your airway, whether it is from nasal problems, such as allergies or a deviated septum, issues with your mouth that include a thick,soft palate that drops down too low or excessive throat tissue that can lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is the most cause for concern as it results in periods when you actually stop breathing in the night. Your body is deprived of the vital oxygen it needs to keep all systems functioning at optimal levels. These dangerous episodes can occur hundreds of times in a night for up to a minute at a time. When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Weight gain is another problem as the body’s metabolism slows down, making it even harder to sleep well at night. If you are snoring, you need to get to the bottom of your problem and do something about it.
What You Can Do to Stop Snoring
Once you’ve determined the cause of your snoring, you have several options to deal with the problem effectively. You can try snoring pillows that help you to position your head in a way that can help you to keep your airway clear. You can also try nasal strips to see if they are effective for you. If your snoring is due to allergies or chronic sinus infections, you need to get medication to clear up the problem. Smoking is a definite no for anyone who snores and may eliminate the condition once you stop. If you are overweight, become more active, eat a healthy diet, and shed those extra pounds. It is also recommended to avoid alcohol before bed as it will cause the muscles and tissue of the throat to relax to the point of causing a blockage. The CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, device is a common alternative that is recommended for sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask that is connected to a machine while air is pumped into your nose and mouth during the night. This method of treatment is restrictive and many prefer other alternatives.
Say Goodbye to Snoring Forever: Oral Appliances as a Welcome Alternative
When all else fails, there are a host of snoring mouthpiecesthat could be the simple solution to your problem. Designed to hold your tongue in place and keep your jaw in the proper alignment so there will be no blockage to your airway, snoring mouthpieces involve wearing a mouth guard at night while you sleep. When you no longer have an obstruction, you should sleep easy again and provide peace for the rest of the household as well.
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