Sleep Gets Better For You and Your Partner With Less Snoring

It has been estimated that over 30 percent of adults snore. A survey discovered that more than 24 percent of men snore and approximately 13 percent of women snore. As people age, their snoring increases. Between the ages of 60-65, it is estimated that up to 60 percent of men snore and 40 percent of women snore. Snoring is affected by the anatomy of an individual's sinuses and mouth. Snoring is also affected by the stage of sleep a person is in and their use of medications. A person's weight, allergies, alcohol consumption all play a role in snoring. An observational study estimated that more than 36 percent of its participants who were habitual snorers also had a larger body mass index. These individuals also were more likely to smoke as well as consume alcohol.

What Causes Snoring?

Many different factors can cause snoring. Some of the most common causes include: 

• Blocked Nasal Airways – Some people will only snore during allergy season. This is when it is common for them to experience a sinus infection. Other conditions such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum can block a person's nasal airways.
• Excessive Weight – When a person has excess weight, it can result in many health issues. One of them is snoring. Too much body weight can cause a person to have poor muscle tone. This can cause an increase of tissue around their neck and throat, closing off airways.
• Long Soft Palate or Uvula – The dangling tissue in the back of a person's mouth is their uvula. If this is not the right size, it can narrow the opening from a person's nose to their throat. This could cause the uvula and soft palate to hit one another and block a person's airways.
• Sleep Style – It is common for a person to snore more when they are sleeping on their back when compared to sleeping on their side or stomach.

Products to Stop Snoring

There are a wide variety of products a person can try to stop their snoring. Different items can help different people based on what’s causing their snoring and how they take to the treatment. Items include: 

• Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) – This device works by moving a person's mandible forward. This is the jawbone. It is designed to decrease the restriction a person's experiences in the back of their throat when they are sleeping. As it is doing this, the device will move a person's tongue forward. Once an individual's jaw and tongue are moved away from the back of their throat, the size of the upper airway increases. Air resistance is significantly decreased and the snoring stops.
• Tongue Retaining Device (TRD) – They are used in many situations to treat snoring including obstructive sleep apnea. A TRD's appearance resembles a mouthpiece. It covers the upper and lower dental arches in a person's mouth. The TRD effectively moves a person's tongue forward. This will significantly decrease the obstruction of a person's airways. It is recommended to have these custom-made if possible.
• Snoring Strips – These are small flexible bands of material designed to pull the nostrils open. This will widen a person's nasal passages. This will increase the airflow through a person's nose.

Natural Treatments and Lifestyle Options to Help Snoring

There are also natural methods that are effective with some people when it comes to stopping snoring. These include: 

• Working Throat and Tongue Muscles - A good exercise for a person's throat is singing. A way for a person to work their tongue is to place the tip of it behind the top of their teeth and slide it back and forth for a few minutes daily.
• Elevate Head When Sleeping – It is common for a person to sleep on their side and not their back and continue to snore. This may be a situation where a person may need to prop up their head. This eases a person's breathing and opens up their airways.
• Increase Water Intake – It is important for a person who snores to stay hydrated. When a person is dehydrated, it results in mucus forming in their nose. This could cause them to snore.
• Get Humidifiers – Dry air is not always the cause for snoring, but it does aggravate it. Having a humidifier on will keep the air moist. This helps to lubricate a person's throat. This makes it easier for air to flow in and out of a person's nose.

It is common for everyone to snore now and then. There are some people whose snoring is a chronic problem. When this happens, it could indicate a serious health condition. Snoring can also be a nuisance to a person's partner. There are medical devices that can help as well as lifestyle changes. Should someone have problems with snoring, there are a variety of things they can try to address this problem.