Snoring Ruining Your Sex Life?

Updated: Thursday February 23, 2012

How to Stop Snoring Now! No Surgery Required – Anti Snoring Devices

Snoring rests in an awkward position (forgive the pun) medically- it’s so common that most people dismiss it as a normal part of sleeping and not worthy of treatment. Yet, snoring can be both a symptom and a catalyst of some nasty conditions that can bring your quality of life far below where it should be. There’s no reason to consciously go untreated without taking action, it will only exacerbate the problem and hurt you (and your relationship) in the long run.

The good news is that there are tons of proven and effective ways to get rid of a pesky snoring problem- even the most stubborn cases can be self-treated with special anti-snoring devices and by following some simple guidelines. If you or your spouse snores at night, stop ignoring it and do something about it right away. Both of you will get a better night’s sleep and feel refreshed and energized in the morning (you may have forgotten what that feels like!), and the guilty party won’t have to worry about the various health problems associated with snoring anymore.

Finding the Cause

Before you can choose the right remedy, the general cause of the snoring should be pinpointed. Some people only need to take minor measures while others may need to make drastic lifestyle changes or alternately use an anti-snoring device. Determining which course of action to take depends on your individual case. Here are some of the most common causes of snoring:

• Sleeping Position – The most common and obvious cause of snoring. Your favorite position to sleep in may not be as comfortable for your throat and jaw as it is for you- your posture can cause relaxation in the wrong muscles and constrict air flow. Sleeping flat on your back is the biggest culprit- but the good news is that you don’t necessarily have to change your sleeping habits to fix your snoring problem, more on that later.
• Age – This is a big factor when it comes to snoring. As you get older, the muscles in your throat tend to get weaker and less defined, making it narrower and more difficult to circulate air. This is natural and in most cases, unavoidable.
• Genetics – Sometimes you’re just born with snore-prone features that can’t be helped. Men in general are more likely to snore because their air passages are naturally narrower than women. It’s best to eliminate all other factors before attributing your snoring to genetics.
• Jaw Position – The structure of the jaw bone is such that when put in awkward or lax position, it depresses the soft tissue in the throat and narrows the air passage significantly. This is a very common problem that few people recognize and treat. Anyone who sleeps on their back or in a position that leaves the jaw unsupported should look into a simple treatment for it (one device in particular is especially effective, see the treatments section below).
• Nasal and Sinus Blockage – If you have an abundance of mucus buildup in your sinuses, air flow is constricted and can easily lead to snoring. Any problem directly related to the sinuses can cause snoring, so be sure to ask your doctor if you have a history of nasal problems.
• Out of Shape – People on the weighty side who don’t get much exercise can develop a snoring problem quite easily. An abundance of fat tissue in the neck area puts weight on the throat and restricts air flow. Also, as with age, decreased muscle tone in the throat can be a problem if you don’t get enough exercise or eat healthy enough.
• Alcohol, Smoking, Medications – Regular alcohol use and heavy smoking can contribute to a snoring problem. Over time, they act as muscle relaxants and decrease the ‘tightness’ of your throat muscles, narrowing the passage and resulting in snoring. Also, pay close attention to the timing of your snoring problem and any medications you are taking- if your snoring problem coincides with a new regimen, let your doctor know and see if this is abnormal.

As you can see, snoring can be the result of a wide variety of bodily problems and finding the reason behind your snoring is essential to choosing the right method for fixing it. Some of these issues are obviously irreversible (age, genetics), but that certainly doesn’t mean you’re ‘stuck with it’. If you are one of these people, you should take measures to eliminate any other contributing factors first (exercise regularly, eat healthy, try different sleeping positions). If your problem persists, there are some great anti-snoring devices out there that work for just about anyone.

A Word on Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the worst case scenarios as far as snoring goes. Simply put, OSA is a condition caused by weak or stretched throat tissue that not only constricts air flow- it stops it completely due to a collapse of the throat (or soft palate) tissue into the upper airway, creating a complete blockage that cuts off air circulation. To break this blockage and continue breathing, the sufferer is forced to awaken and flex their tongue or throat to create tension in the tissue and free up the air passage. These rude awakenings often go unnoticed because they often occur during the deepest levels of sleep (REM) and they can happen as many as several hundred times in one night. The fact that they happen during REM sleep is one of the biggest problems with OSA- without regular healthy and uninterrupted REM sleep, the body suffers from many adverse effects (increased chance of hear t failure, daytime fatigue, depression, irritability, and many more). If you suspect that you may have OSA, arrange to see a doctor and get some special sleep tests run that determine if you have it or not. If you do, some of the treatments below can help you recover.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most popular and proven methods for treating a snoring problem.

Treatment Methods

Keep the reason behind your snoring problem in mind when choosing a treatment method, not all techniques are universally effective because snoring has a variety of causes and each case should be handled individually.

Stop Snoring Devices

When it comes to using a device to effectively correct your snoring problem, there are generally two ways to go- one being obtrusive and uncomfortable but necessary for health threatening cases (notably OSA) and the other is a comfortable and naturally-fitting universal solution for almost anyone who snores.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) devices are used by sufferers of sleep apnea and other breathing problems that can cause health risks. In fact, a prescription is almost always needed to access this device. This is basically an air blowing machine that you keep by the side of your bed, and attached to this via hose is a mask that fits over your nose/face. The machine forces air through your nasal passageways and the air pressure is adjusted to prevent any sort of blockage. While this solution is a life-saver for serious cases, the average snoring problem can be solved by far less intrusive means.

Techniques and Guidelines

There are measures you can take in your daily life to stop snoring faster. While they won’t provide instantaneous relief, over time they can eliminate the root causes behind your snoring and help you to live a healthier and happier life (a direct result of a consistent good night’s sleep).

Losing weight and regular exercise are important for those that may be out of shape. Taking steps to lose weight will get rid of fatty tissue buildup that constricts the airways in the throat. Also, when you exercise and build muscles throughout your body (arms, abs, legs, etc.), you also promote the muscles in your throat, making them leaner and more defined which does wonders for opening up your air passageways.

Quitting smoking is a huge step to help prevent snoring (and a myriad of other health issues). Smoking damages the membranes in your nose and throat, creating extra mucus and decreasing the vitality of your throat fibers.

Try using a humidifier in your room to get some moisture in the air. Constantly breathing dry air can irritate the membranes in a similar fashion to smoking and can lead to snoring. Also, avoid caffeine and big meals close to bedtime (especially dairy). Sleeping pills are also a bad idea- they can put you in a deeper state of sleep than normal and relax the muscles in your throat even more, which makes snoring worse.