It can seem like snoring is just a regular annoying problem, but it can actually indicate that there’s something else going on. Snoring can be attributable to several different factors. We’ll go over some of the common causes of snoring and some treatment options.

Finding the root cause of your snoring problem will make it that much easier to solve. Medical conditions can contribute to the development and progression of snoring, and will not improve untreated. It could actually become worse.

Nasal Passages

To help combat snoring, many people benefiting from sleeping propped up on two or three pillows, almost sleeping in a sitting position. By sitting upright while sleeping will help nasal drainage from clogging up the nasal passages. By keeping the nasal passages clear, you will lessen your chances of snoring.

It sounds silly, but singing may actually cure your snoring. The reason is because you exercise your throat muscles when you sing, making them much stronger over time. The probability of snoring decreases with the strength of the muscles in your throat. Also, there are a few musical instruments that can make your throat muscles stronger, the saxophone and trumpet are a couple.

You can reduce snoring by making funny “fish faces”. While it may sound rather odd, practicing this facial expression can workout the muscles in your throat and face. To do so, merely suck your cheeks in when your mouth is closed. Moving you lips in a fish-like movement will give the right muscles a workout. To be effective, this exercise should be repeated several times each day.

Maximize water intake to limit snoring during the course of the night. Dehydration causes thicker, more problematic mucosal secretions, which then compromise the airways and makes you more prone to snoring. To minimize the risk of snoring, you should try to drink at least 10 cups of hydrating liquid (anything non-caffeinated, ideally water) in the course of the day.

Illegal Drugs

Avoid any use of illegal drugs. Illegal drugs can contribute significantly to your snoring issues. Pot will make your throat relax and collapse while you sleep. Pain killers, bought illegally on the street, will also have the same effect. You might like the relaxed feeling when you are still awake, but once you fall asleep, you will snore.

Keep your head elevated when you are asleep, to cut down on snoring. The easiest way to elevate your head is to use a thick pillow. Alternatively, you can simply use extra pillows. If your head is elevated, the airflow should be much better and you will not snore.

Overweight individuals, including those with excess neck fat, are more likely to snore. The excess fatty tissue surrounding the windpipes of overweight people doesn’t help the situation. If you are carrying around a couple of extra pounds, it may help if you lose some weight. This will help you sleep much better as well as making you feel and look better too.

If you want to stop snoring, upgrade to a pillow that is a bit firmer. A soft pillow allows your head to fall into a position which causes your throat to collapse. You will begin snoring because it is difficult for air to get through. Switch to a firm pillow, and your passageways will stay open.

As you have read, snoring may indicate an underlying health condition. Because the potential causes of snoring are so numerous, things that may help one person may be completely ineffective for others. However, you can use the information from the above article to begin treating it.