Snoring happens when you sleep. During that part of the day our body rests, and all our muscles enter in “relaxation mode”, this includes the muscles we have on the throat. When we sleep we all then have smaller air passages for the air to pass through.  But problems begin when something makes the passages even narrower.

One of the most common snoring causes is excess weight.  As we gain weight we store fat in different parts of our body, perhaps you tend to think that we only store fat in the belly and the waist, but we have fatty tissues in the sides of the throat that also get more prominent.  They enlarge and during the night some friction occurs, producing the terrible snoring sound.

Other cause of snoring is smoking. The smoke we inhale or even get from second hand, increase the chances of snoring problems by producing nasal congestion. When we inhale smoke, the body starts producing mucus, which then causes blockage of the air passages in the throat.

Yet another cause of snoring is the ingestion of substances that cause relaxation, this includes alcohol and also medications.  As you can tell, by knowing the causes, it is very possible that you also work on some changes to prevent further problems of snoring.

Finally, another factor that can influence in the appearance of snoring is your mouth’s anatomy. Your airway can become narrower if you have a low, thick, soft palate.  This can also happen if the uvula is elongated.

It is important that we address the problem of snoring, because it is not only a couples’ issue, but also can be a sign of a condition you may be suffering from. So, by finding a proper cure you’ll be improving your life and the life of the people you live with.  Here are some tips that might help you get rid of snoring problems.

One of the causes of snoring is excess weight.  This happens, because the fatter a person is, the easier the air passage gets blocked.  So by losing weight, you are not only dropping the pounds on your stomach but also removing fat from the area around the airway, allowing you to breathe better during your sleep.

Sleeping without a pillow can also be of great help.  Common pillows bend your neck in such a way that they allow for easy blockage of the airway.  By removing the pillow, your neck will be flatter, so air will pass easier.

Your sleeping position can also influence snoring. It does not always help to change positions – there are people who snore in any way they move! And also it is impossible to determine your sleeping position.  Luckily there are now some aids, like special pillows that will help you get a better posture that allow for the opening of your airways.  The position that influences more snoring is you lying on your back, it is advisable to lie on your side.

Other things that can facilitate snoring are smoking; sedatives & alcohol (which actually relax the muscle sin the neck even more); and full cream dairy products that retain mucus in the throat.

These are some tips that might help you with your snoring problems.  But in any case it would be great that in your next visit to the doctor, you address the problem to discard any underlying condition.