How to stop snoring
Research provides us with new information practically every day. There now exists a hitherto unknown ailment among men over the age of thirty which manifests itself in the patient waking up every morning with severe bruising and muscle pain around the ribcage and lower back. This new ailment has been dubbed 'wife's elbow syndrome'. O.K, I'm only joking but I can tell you that snoring is anything but a laughing matter.
I can still remember as a child creeping into my parent's bedroom one Sunday morning to record my father's snores. Up until that point he had repeatedly refused to believe he ever did such a thing, despite my mother's protests. When he heard the recording he was vividly shocked. Snoring can effect anybody (and that includes women, who somehow always get away with being scolded) and can really be a serious problem, both for the sufferer and the immediate family. Many wives have had to leave their marital bed in order to get a good night's rest. Added to this many women have to go through the menopause and you can see what a mess it can cause.
Snoring occurs because the soft muscles at the back of the throat, together with the tonsils and tongue, rub against each other to create the characteristic vibrating sound when you are asleep. Although snoring can begin in any position, it most often starts when the person is lying on their back. Then the tongue is able to fall further back and lessen the space where the air can flow. However, in serious cases, the sufferer will snore even if lying on their side or stomach.
Snoring has also been found to be a clear symptom of sleep apnea, a serious ailment where the patient actually stops breathing while asleep.
Luckily there are ways and methods to cure snoring without resorting to drugs or surgery. Most of the remedies may seem obvious but they do need a good deal of will power on the behalf of the person.
Probably the oldest method of getting someone to stop snoring is by sewing a tennis ball into the back of their pajamas. This will make them turn over onto their side, but if they have a severe case of snoring they won't stop making the same noises.
By far the most effective way to stop snoring is by losing weight. It has been clearly demonstrated that people who are overweight are more prone to snoring. This is because they have more neck tissue than they should and contributes to closing the airway, thus making more snoring sounds. The patient doesn't have to go on a crash diet but losing a bit of weight by eating healthily and sensibly will help the condition.
The second most significant factor in the war against snores is probably alcohol. Any amount of alcohol will cause the throat muscles to relax more than they should, and you end up with the same results as being overweight. By cutting back on the drink (or better giving it up entirely) will definitely help. The same goes for any kind of sedative. Steam can also be a winner against snoring, especially in winter time. Place a towel over your head then slowly and deeply inhale from a bowl of boiling water. The vapor will help break down the mucus that is a big contributor to snoring. So far we haven't actually spent any money on these remedies, but if all else fails try getting some nasal strips. Tests show that they do provide temporary relief for congested noses and some people swear by them.
