There is nothing worse than going to sleep and hearing a helicopter flying over your house… wait! It's not a helicopter, it's the downstairs neighbor snoring again.
The snoring are those loud sounds and unpleasant sensations that occur with throat relaxation and they can be very annoying, especially for the rest of the inhabitants of the house (and in serious cases, the neighborhood).
What causes them?
The reasons why you snore can be many and very varied. Some most common reasons son:
- The anatomy of the mouth or palate, since if there is a lot of tissue it can narrow the airways, producing more sound when the air passes through.
- Nasal problems, such as having a deviated nasal septum or frequent congestion.
- Not getting enough sleep: By relaxing your throat more when you do manage to sleep, you can snore.
- The sleeping posture: You tend to snore more when sleeping on your back, since gravity causes the airways to narrow.
- Drink alcohol shortly before sleeping, again, for the relaxation of the throat.
- Snoring can be symptom of other diseases of greater or lesser severity, such as, for example, obstructive sleep apnea (which is usually closely linked to snoring).
Others risk factor's that increase the chances of snoring are:
- Being a man, since sleep apnea and snoring in general are more common in them.
- Suffer overweight: Overweight people tend to have more tissue in the neck and palate, reducing the passage of air through the respiratory tract.
- Have the narrow airways.
- Chronic nasal problems.
- Family background of nasal problems, snoring or apnea.
- Being a smoker.
Symptoms of snoring
Snoring, in addition to being annoying for companions or other people sleeping in adjoining rooms, can lead to other problems for the sleeper:
- Pauses in breathing During the dream.
- Headaches frequent.
- Somnolence or fatigue during the day.
- Gasping or ahogos while sleeping.
- High blood pressure.
- Chest pains.
- Dream insufficient and/or poor quality.
All of these symptoms can be linked to obstructive sleep apnea, which is usually the main cause of snoring, although not all people who snore suffer from this sleep disorder.
Some solutions for snoring
There are no magic tricks that relieve snoring instantly, but there are a series of habits or treatments that can be followed:
- Avoid alcohol before going to sleep.
- Also, avoid smoking before going to sleep, and in general.
- If snoring is linked to being overweight, weightloss can relieve them.
- When it is linked to nasal congestion, treat that congestion with the indicated remedies or medications.
- Try to sleep on your side.
In any case, consult with a doctor if snoring becomes a serious rest problem for you and/or those around you or if you suspect that it may be obstructive sleep apnea. Your doctor will indicate all the possible treatments, devices and surgeries for your case.
