Snoring- Causes and Cures
If you sleep next to someone who snores, you know what it is
like. Constantly being awakened in the middle of the night,
shoving them over on their side only to waken again when they
roll back. The snoring does not seem to bother the sleeper, but
can bother their partner so much that there are several attacks
a year on snoring sleepers by their sleep mates. Before you
decide to hit your snoring partner with large, heavy objects,
there are some medical reasons for snoring that you should know
about.
Relaxed muscles in the throat caused by alcohol or over the
counter sleep medication can cause snoring, large tonsils or
adenoids can cause snoring as well. Obstructed nasal passages
such as a stuffy nose can cause snoring, so if your snoring
sleeper is sensitive during hay fever season, that could be the
reason. If the snoring is very loud, raspy, and constant, there
are medical doctors and sleep clinics specially designed to help
with sleep disturbances, and surgery may be needed.
Snoring followed by the sleeper appearing to stop breathing
altogether is called sleep apnea and is a very serious
condition. Sleep apnea can cause heart problems, high blood
pressure, impotency, weight gain, and headaches. Therefore, you
should seek medical advice and attention.
If the snoring is light, you can take some preventative
measures. Regular exercise and losing weight can help. In
addition, avoid taking medication that makes you sleepy, and try
to sleep on your side rather than your back. Propping a pillow
behind you can help keep you from rolling over on to your back
during the night thus disturbing your sleep mate again.