Snoring is a common occurrence. However, just
because it’s common, it doesn’t mean that it is harmless. Snoring can
negatively influence your own sleep and that of your bed partner. So what is to
be done?
Cause and severity of your snoring problem !
First, try to determine the cause and severity of your snoring problem. Your spouse may be helpful here. If your snoring is so loud that it wakes a spouse once or many times during the night, you probably have a fairly severe problem.
However, you might try a few easy solutions to snoring that may work for you without too much investigation. Try sleeping on your side, instead of on your stomach or back. Try elevating the head of your bed and sleeping on more than one pillow. You can put bricks or books in stacks under the end of the bed to raise it a few inches. Change your bedtime routine to avoid alcohol. Extra weight may contribute to snoring, so losing weight is another thing to try.
If you are still snoring after these changes, you should have your doctor determine if you need further testing to find out the cause of your snoring. Since snoring is often caused by excess throat or nasal tissue, the doctor can evaluate if you need an operation, such as a tonsillectomy, to help clear the obstruction. Sometimes, medications, such as steroid nasal sprays, can help narrow the passage without surgery. But it is important to have a thorough medical examination to see what can be done.
Your doctor may also want you to have a sleep study. This test can help pinpoint the kind of snoring you are doing, as well as the cause for it. This test usually involves an overnight stay in a sleep center or hospital, but it is the gold standard for diagnosing snoring problems.
Did you know that the way you snore can help you make an educated guess at what is causing the snoring? If you snore with your mouth closed, then your tongue may be the problem. On the other hand, if your mouth is open when you snore, your throat tissue is probably to blame. If your snoring improves when you change your sleep position from your back to your side, then your snoring is probably of the mild variety and you don’t need to investigate further. If changing sleep positions does not help, then you probably have a more severe sleep issue and should see your doctor.
Snoring is often associated with middle age and being overweight. Men are more likely to snore than are women. If you are in these risk groups, then go ahead and try the self-help snoring methods, but don’t wait too long to get things checked out with your doctor.
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