How To Stop Snoring

Chronic snoring is a huge medical problem in the United States, but many people don’t take it seriously.
It has long been the subject matter for jokes, and continues to be even today. But it’s no laughing matter. Now, we should make clear that we’re not talking about occasional, light snoring.

Virtually everyone does that from time to time, and it’s not a problem. Usually when they roll over or change position, light snoring will stop. Every married person has at one time or another nudged their spouse for this very reason.

No, we’re talking about heavy snoring, done on a regular basis. Heavy snoring is not something to be taken lightly. But by using a snore pillow, the sufferer can alleviate the problem. At least as long as they sleep on that pillow.

And it’s not just the serious health problems that the snore pillow addresses. Heavy snoring has ruined many a marriage, and seriously damaged many more. It’s no fun having to sleep in separate bedrooms because of your spouse’s snoring. It kills romance, causes resentment, and strains the bond that unites a married couple.

It’s no joke - there are many cases of people divorcing a spouse because it’s impossible to sleep with them snoring, even in another room. And there are countless cases that never reach that stage, but have reduced the marriage to two people simply sharing a TV, kitchen, and bathroom. So it’s fair to say that snore pillows, when they work, besides being health savers, can also be marriage savers.

Are snore pillows expensive? No, not at all. Especially when you compare the trivial cost of one with the cost of surgery to reduce snoring, or hospital stays from the effects of snoring. And there’s no way to put a price tag on a strained or ruined marriage. Which means that snore pillows are truly a bargain. But if they don’t work it doesn’t matter if they are a bargain.

The one treatment with a 97% satisfaction from users is the well known program with simple exercises to stop snoring developed by an Icelandic therapist. If the pillow does not help, the well known exercise program has shown to be very effective.

The only problem is that snore pillows don’t work for everyone. In that case, you’ll need to look at alternative treatments if you want to stay healthy, avoid surgery, and keep your marriage happy. Snoring exercises have worked for a lot of folks who got no help from the snore pillow.

There are plenty of snoring devices available.

Let’s see….

Mouth pieces.

Nose pieces.

Pillows.

Snore Wizards.

Chin straps

Nose strips

Herbal Lozenges

Throat Sprays

And on and on……

Snoring always involves tissue constricting your airways. That’s it.

Devices attempt to somehow holding the tissue, pushing it, shrinking it etc. The problem with that is, provided you found the correct tissue that needed correction, that these devices are temporary at best. And that is IF you found the right device to treat YOUR problem.

Devises, no matter how attractive they seem, “Just put this in or on your nose and your problem is gone forever” do not have any effect on < what is causing the snoring. Meaning that IF you are lucky enough to spend money on a devise that happens to target your specific cause of snoring, (and there are many causes) it will only work when you use it. Sometimes using it means you have to sacrifice comfort which may keep you sleepless in order to “fix” your snoring.

Remember, snoring is caused by a partial obstruction of your airways. The obstruction is caused by parts of you that have either lack of tone, such as your tongue for example. Lying on your back with a tongue that lacks tone can allow the tongue to fall back into your throat, and, presto, you are snoring. The same is the case with the soft palate. When it lacks tone it can vibrate when you breathe and thus cause the passing of air to create a sound. You recognize, I’m sure, the feeling you have in your throat if you wake up from your own snoring. Or pay attention next time it happens.

The opposite is true as well that tissue that is too tight can press on the airways which can result in the same result: Snoring.

When getting a snoring device it is best to try to understand where your snoring is coming from.

Stopping the snores from disrupting the quiet of the night, and even causing disruptions in ones marriage can be top priority for a snorer. And it should be. Not only is snoring annoying, sometimes downright irritating, it has effects in many areas. Some who snore have to sleep alone in order to not cause sleep deprivation in their partner. That can have less than positive effects for ones relationship.

The market place is full of all sorts of devices and gadgets to help people to stop snoring. Look at the plethora of mouth pieces supposedly designed to keep your mouth in the right position. (Who could even sleep with one of those things in the mouth?)

But do they work?
Yes and no. Some of them have some effect as long as they are worn. Don’t use the device, and your are snoring again. The problem with devices are that they do not address the cause of the snoring. There are a number of common reasons for people to snore, and IF the device you bought targets the reason you snore, you can get temporary help.

The cause for sounds to be created as you breathe is when the air gets partially obstructed. Period.

That obstruction can have a number of causes but always involve tissue or muscles that are either too tight, as is common with the jaw, or to loose, as is common with the tongue, soft palate or throat.

The Case Of The Flopping Palate
When you are deeply at sleep and your muscles are deeply relaxed, muscles or tissue that lack tone can cause your tongue to fall back into the throat or your soft palate to “flop around in the wind”.

The real solution to snoring is to not have tissue that is too loose or too tight, thus allowing the air to pass freely and soundlessly. Like we exercise other parts of our body to keep them toned and supple, we can exercise the tissue along our entire airways to free up our breathing and stop snoring. Voice teachers know this.
And while exercising the muscles in your throat and tongue may seem far fetched it is not far fetched for singers and singing instructors.

Many of us groan when we hear the word exercise The good news is that these exercises are not only easy to do, but you do not even need to join a gym! Nor do you need to spend more than a few short minutes a day. A few simple exercises for a few weeks and you may be snore free. I think that beats some gadget in your mouth for the rest of your life.

photo credit: sweet mandy kay

Snoring is the source of many a joke, but it’s really no laughing matter. It can kill romance, force spouses to sleep in separate rooms, and in extreme cases it can even destroy marriages, On top of these problems, heavy snorers aren’t really getting a good night’s sleep. This can have deleterious effects in several areas of a person’s life, such as their overall health, and their productivity at work. So all jokes aside, snoring is something you’ll want to deal with it if you or a loved one is suffering from it. Here are some snoring help ideas to consider.

One way to lessen the frequency of snoring is to sleep on your side. This can be a difficult transition for most people to make, as everyone has a favorite sleeping position, and it can be very hard to switch to a new one. But sleeping on your back is a one of the contributing causes of snoring, and if that’s how you sleep, you should really try to start sleeping on your side. (Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended; it can cause back problems.)

If you’re overweight, you’re much more likely to snore, and much more likely to be a heavy snorer (no pun intended). The fat tissue in the area of your neck and throat are one of the main causes of your snoring. Losing weight can be difficult, but doing so can reduce or eliminate your snoring problem. And with the added health benefits that come with dropping a few pounds, it’s even more of a good idea. Even losing 15-20 pounds can make a big difference in your snoring.

Another snoring help tip is to cut way back on the use of alcohol and certain prescription drugs, such as sedatives. It may seem strange that drugs you take to help you sleep can cause snoring, but anything that suppresses your bodies automatic breathing system will make snoring more likely, and sedative and alcohol both have this effect.

Try some of these suggestions to help with your snoring. They work for a lot of people, and they may work for you. If not, you should seek out additional resources for natural snoring help before you consider radical measures such as surgery.