HomeHealthSnoring:  Treatments to Try for Snoring

Snoring, Causes, and Treatments

Snoring treatments are a common interest of the millions of people who suffer from snoring. Snoring is a frequent disorder that causes sleep disruptions and fatigue for both those who snore and those who sleep with or near those who snore. Snoring can be loud or quiet, temporary or permanent, and the condition or the symptom. Because there are many different causes of snoring, there are quite a few different snoring treatments that people can try, ranging from very simple and easy to more extreme. The first step in correcting snoring is researching the problem so that you know what might be causing your snoring and what are some possible snoring treatments to consider.

Suggestions for Snoring Treatments

Snoring treatments essentially depend on what causes the snoring. On the most basic level, snoring is a result of a constricted airway that causes restricted airflow and prevents sufficient amounts of oxygen from reaching the body and lungs. Sometimes, the airway is restricted because of things like inflammation or mucus buildup, while at other times the airway becomes completely closed off, such as in cases of sleep apnea. Although snoring is not often dangerous in itself, it can become hazardous to your health because of excessive, persistent fatigue. Whether you are conscious of the sleep interruption or not, snoring often prevents normal sleep cycles so that, even when a person gets an adequate amount of sleep, a snorer awakes still feeling unrested.

Some of the most common causes of snoring are obesity, smoking and alcohol use because all these things cause the airway to become more constricted and result in greater difficulty breathing. However, the good thing about knowing that one of these causes is responsible for your snoring is the simplicity of the snoring treatment. Many people imagine that snoring treatments have to be complicated, extreme, or require serious medical attention. However, there are many simple things that can be done--like losing weight, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption before bed--that can help stop snoring.

If these simple snoring treatments do not help, breathing strips that help maintain good airflow through the nasal passages may be helpful in preventing snoring. A different sleeping arrangement or using more pillows could help open the airway, as well. In cases where the snoring is caused by sleep apnea, CPAP machines can be used to maintain constant airflow and prevent the narrowing of the airway. In rare cases, the snoring can be caused by some other severe condition that requires surgery to correct, but this snoring treatment should only be considered as a last resort.

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