What Are The Causes Of Snoring? Are There Any Snoring Cures?
For those who know they snore, have you ever wondered what the causes of snoring are? Is there a switch that your brain clicks when you go to sleep that makes you snore like a train or sound like the worst thunder storm ever? Let me tell you the basics, as to be well informed helps you fight the battle in finding snoring cures that will work for you.
When we breathe, air passes through the back of the nose and mouth and snoring results from an obstruction in those pathways. The causes of snoring are mainly related to the collapse of part of the air passages where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula (this is the small V-shaped extension of the soft palate that hangs behind and over the tongue at the start of the throat area). If this part of the airway becomes blocked at any point, it will cause vibration each time you breathe in and it is this vibration that produces the glorious sounds of snoring.
There is no single fixed point within the airway from which snoring originates; however, the tongue has more recently been seen as an important muscle in the causes of snoring. Basically, when we sleep muscle tone is more relaxed than when we are awake and we are less able to control the airways from collapsing and produce snoring sounds.
There are several causes of snoring that we can do something about, without the need for potions, pills and implements that can be uncomfortable to use. These causes include over eating, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol, the position in which we sleep, allergies and smoking.
Heavy smoking will cause swelling of the nasal and throat passages and catarrh, so if you cannot stop completely, at least try not to smoke for 4 hours before bed to give your body time to recover. Over eating is perhaps an obvious one to control, as if extra fatty tissue is being added to the throat area (this is more likely in men than women) there is a higher chance that you will snore. In looking for snoring cures, diet alone is not enough, it is time to get out and do a little walking or swimming to help tone your whole body.
Allergies, particularly allergic rhinitis are on the increase and now affect between 10-25% of the population. Rhinitis can lead to congestion in the nasal passages which can be triggered by such things as dust, smoke, pet hair, plants and some cleaners. Obviously, if you know your triggers avoid them, but you could also try an anti-inflammatory spray to help reduce the symptoms and as a possible snoring cure.
When you consume alcohol, this leads to a greater relaxation of the muscles in addition to the other undesirable side effects you have probably heard about. I am not here to preach, but please do try to leave it around 4 hours before you go to bed. When we have been drinking heavily, we are also much more liable to sleep on our backs which many people already know is a recipe for loud snoring.
To conclude, there is no magic switch for snorers. Understand your personal causes of snoring then look for snoring cures to improve all our lives!