Is your partner keeping you awake at night with their constant snoring? Having a loved one who snores can be very frustrating and lead to many a sleepless night. Thankfully, it is possible for you both to get a better night’s sleep. However, first, you need to uncover the reason for their snoring before finding the right solution. Quite often, the snorer doesn’t realize the noise they’re making. After all, it might not be keeping them awake. Keep reading, and you’ll gain an understanding of the many different causes of this common affliction, as well as ways it can be treated.
Why Do People Snore?
People snore when the tissues in the airways of the nose and the throat vibrate. These vibrations are caused by airflow through narrowed airways. There are a number of different reasons why people snore, and it can be affected by the sleeping position, stage of sleep and whether they are taking medication or drinking alcohol. It can also be the sign of an underlying medical problem such as sleep apnea. Almost anyone can be a snorer, both men, and women. Snoring is not necessarily a medical problem, but it can be very damaging for a relationship.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
OSA or Obstructive Sleep Apnea is often indicated by loud, frequent snoring. However, it is a very different condition from a person who simply snores. OSA is a chronic condition. It is characterized by a person pausing or shallow breathing when they sleep. It is possible for an OSA sufferer to stop breathing for up to a minute or more. Professional advice should be sought if your partner snores loudly, stops breathing, chokes or gasps when asleep. They may conduct a sleep study before treatment is recommended. Aspire Surgical in Salt Lake City can help with any sleep apnea treatment.
Snoring Remedies
There are some very strange looking anti-snoring devices available for you to purchase and new ones are made available all the time. Many of these devices are not backed up by any kind of research. There are, however, a number of techniques that have been shown to work. Here are some of them:
- Change sleeping position
- Sleep on the side rather than the back
- Clear nasal passages
- Keep the air in the bedroom moist
- Quit smoking
- Lose weight
- Avoid sedatives, sleeping pills, and alcohol
- Limit the consumption of caffeine-rich beverages
- Exercise
- Avoid large meals, dairy or soymilk before bed
- Practice anti-snoring throat exercises
There are also a number of medical devices or surgical procedures that can be used if the remedies above don’t work.
Having a partner that snores can put a huge amount of strain on a relationship. The one lying awake at night while the other snores may be experiencing feelings of resentment. If you’re the one that snores you may feel guilty, helpless or irritated because your partner keeps complaining. It should be a priority for both partners to handle the problem sensitively and find an amicable solution. Remember that snoring is a common and very real problem and is not likely to go away on its own, but through taking on board the tips above you can start to sort your snoring problem for good.