We all are aware of snoring and the way it disrupts our sleep and peace is something we all experience in our daily routine. It happens when air flows through your throat when you breathe in your sleep. This causes the relaxed tissues in your throat to vibrate and cause harsh, irritating sounds.
Snoring affects about half of our population, and 25% of us are habitual snorers.
This habit could also affect your nighttime’s rest which results in a tired and cranky morning. However, the good news is there are natural snoring remedies that can help.
What actually causes us to snore?
A couple of factors come into play here. One popular one is the weight. Carrying excess weight around your neck and throat can cause snoring. In general, men have narrower air passages than women and are most likely to snore.
Sleeping flat on your back could also make you more susceptible to snoring. Even the shape of your mouth or a stuffy nose from a cold could make you sound like an old engine.
Another very popular one is the structure of your entire nasal cavity. Deviated septums, nasal polyps and enlarged tonsils could be the cause of your snoring.
Easy Natural Remedies to Fix Snoring:
1. Change Your Sleep Position
Lying on your back makes the base of your tongue and soft palate collapse to the back wall of your throat, causing a vibrating sound during sleep. Sleeping on your side may help prevent this.
2. Lose Some Weight
People who are overweight are two times more likely to snore than others. Overweight people carry extra fat around their necks which narrows their airways and causes them to snore. So, lose a couple of pounds to avoid these noisy sounds.
3. Quit Alcohol and Cigarettes
If you drink alcohol habitually, especially before bed that might be the cause of your snoring. Drinking alcohol a couple of hours before you go to bed relaxes your throat muscles, causing you to snore. Smoking irritates your throat tissues leading to inflammation that results in snoring.
4. Get Some Steam In
Use a facial steam bowl to open up your airways just before you go to bed. First, fill a large bowl with hot water. Next, drop your head over it. Get close enough for the steam to do its job but not too close so you don’t get burned. Drape a towel over your head to lock in the moisture.
5. Drink More Water
Staying hydrated is always a good idea. Dehydration leads to mucus forming in your nose which could make you snore. Drinking about 3.7 liters of water for men, and about 2.7 liters of water for women is highly beneficial, especially in this case.
The writer is Freelancer, associated with Medical Profession ,working towards PhD in Healthcare Management.