How to Stop Snoring: Simple Remedies and Tips

Kumbhakarna used to sleep for half a year and then stay up the rest of the year, but does the Ramayana mention his snoring habits or not? We will never know. But for the rest of us normal mortals, getting a good night’s sleep is a necessity to survive work and school madness the next day. This cycle is on repeat mode by the way. What happens if snoring throws a spanner in the works? Sleepy and irritated kids, annoyed spouses or in-laws- take your pick- people can get pissed for a lot of reasons.

The term ‘snoring’ is used when someone makes loud noises when sleeping- like snorting, rumbling or even grumbling. All of us snore at some or the other point in our lives, but refuse to admit to it. It is normal if you are especially tired or if you are a baby. But what happens if you snore loudly, every night and then wake up feeling restless and tired? You may be dealing with a condition called sleep apnea.

Why Do We Snore And How Do I Stop?

Snoring is most probably due to sleep apnea- where you stop breathing for a few seconds or even minutes. Then your brain realises you have run out of air after which you gasp for air and make loud noises. This repeats every hour or two through the night, and can get exhausting to deal with. Snoring can occur due to a few reasons- like having issues with your tongue, tonsils, the soft palate or the adenoids. If you are male, are older, have a deviated septum and/or tend to drink then you have the golden trifecta for a snoring package. Add being overweight to this mix and you better hope for good sleep tonight. This however does not mean that women won’t snore at all. Men have peculiar anatomical differences which make them great snorers. Haha!

Best Remedies For Snoring And Sleep Apnea

Making some much needed lifestyle changes like losing weight, eating healthy and moving around for at least 150 minutes a week are great places to start. Some solutions which work beautifully are- sleeping on your side, not consuming any alcohol before bedtime, not smoking and using simple tools like nasal strips to help, which can make a great difference for most folks.

How Does Weight Loss Help Reduce Snoring?

Did you know that if you are obese, you have more fat around your neck region and your tongue gets and feels heavier? This can in turn cause snoring due to obstruction in the airway passage. But you will need to remember that some people continue to snore even after they have shed a few kilos. This means the root cause still needs to be addressed.

Nasal Strips And The Anti-Snoring Army

So, this nifty tape like charm is simple to use- they will pull outwards on your nostrils ever so slightly. You can experiment with sizes till you find the right one. But it shouldn’t feel too tight or loose. Many studies however have not shown any significant reduction in snoring when strips were used. So, it is highly dependent on the individual.

Conclusion

Snoring is totally normal most of the time, but if it compromises your daily quality and standard of life and you wake up feeling exhausted or dry-mouthed, then you should probably get some help. Making some changes to sleep position like not sleeping on your back, refraining from having any alcohol, not smoking and staying at a healthy weight can all help, in a positive manner. If the symptoms are too severe, surgical interventions may also be considered. So, talk to your doctor today about how to make your daily siesta or sleep routine a restful one! Goodnight and zzzzz…