Help to Quit Snoring

If someone is snoring every night it not only disturbs their sleep but that of their bed partner! Many people who snore have a restricted flow of air through their nose, which causes them to open their mouth to breath and this in turn causes snoring! The first thing for a snorer to do is try and find out why they are snoring and then get help to quit snoring.

Help to quit snoring can be self initiated, for example people who are overweight have a tendency to snore, particularly if they have excess fat around the neck and face, losing weight may help prevent snoring as will giving up smoking as this will improve the air intake. People who drink alcohol late at night may also snore as alcohol is a relaxant which may cause the mouth to fall open during sleep producing snoring and snuffling.

Sometimes snoring can be prevented by changing sleeping position, people are more prone to snore when they sleep on their backs, or by changing the height of their pillows to allow the head to be more in line with the spine.

For those who are not overweight, do not smoke or consume alcohol, there are other methods available which will help to quit snoring. Nasal strips are used to expand the nostrils to allow more air to be breathed through the nose. These can be brought over the counter from drug stores and do not need any specialist fitting.

Mouth shields, either brought from drug stores or custom made by dentists may also help to quit smoking. These work by wearing the shield during sleep and prevent the jaw from dropping back which enables the snorer to breathe more effectively through the nose and reduce or stop snoring.

If the snoring is persistent it is advisable to consult a doctor as there may be a medical reason for the snoring, such as nasal polyps which may need to be surgically removed to allow the air flow through the nose to be increased.

Sleep consultants may also establish the cause of the snoring and will provide a list of possible solutions and help to quit snoring.