Many people believe that snoring is normal, especially as we age. However, snoring can be a sign of a more serious problem, like sleep apnea. If you snore every night, it's important to consult with a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
And even if there are no signs of more serious medical issues, snoring can disturb your sleep partner and result in you feeling tired and lethargic the next day.
What causes snoring?
We cover this topic in more detail in our previous article - What Causes Snoring and How to Fix It - but put simply, snoring is caused by a narrowing of the airway - this can be due to many things, including:
- Anatomy of the mouth and throat: If you have a deviated septum (the wall between your nostrils), large tonsils, or narrow nasal passages, you may be more likely to snore.
- Obesity: Excess weight can cause increased tissue in the back of the throat, which leads to snoring.
- Alcohol use: Drinking alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat, which can cause snoring.
- Smoking: Smoke irritates the throat and nasal passages, which can lead to inflammation and make it difficult to breathe, which results in snoring.
- Medications: Some medications, such as sedatives and muscle relaxers, can relax the muscles in your throat and cause snoring.
How do I stop snoring?
If you are looking for ways to stop snoring, there are a few things you can try on your own:
- Sleep on your side instead of your back: When you sleep on your back, gravity pulls your tongue and soft palate down, which narrows your airway and can cause snoring. Sleeping on your side prevents this from happening.
- Elevate your head with pillows: This will also help keep your airway open so you can breathe easier at night.
- Lose weight if you are overweight: As we mentioned before, obesity can lead to increased tissue in the back of the throat, which causes snoring. Losing weight will help reduce this tissue and may help you stop snoring altogether.
- Quit smoking: If you are a smoker, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your overall health - and it may help you stop snoring too!
- Avoid alcohol before bedtime.
- Try the Happy Sleep anti-snoring mouthpiece: The easiest way to mitigate your snoring and enjoy a more peaceful night’s sleep is to invest in an anti-snoring mouthguard. The Happy Sleep range comprises revolutionary, dentist-designed oral mandibular advancement devices for managing snoring and teeth grinding.
Learn more about the Happy Sleep range online
Robbie Charleston, who had a chronic problem with snoring and teeth grinding, had this to say about the revolutionary Happy Sleep mouthpiece (formerly the SweetSleep device):
"Waking up after the very first night of using the SweetSleep™ device, I already felt more refreshed. I had more energy. I didn't grind. And my wife said I didn’t snore, which means I didn’t get kicked out of bed. It’s given me back my quality of life and it’s done wonders for my relationship too."
Browse the Happy Sleep range online today.
To learn more about possible causes and solutions to snoring, read our Ultimate Research-Backed Guide to Treating Snoring.
