Because of the negative effects snoring can have on our health or the health of those sharing our sleeping space, it is advisable to investigate, and eradicate its root cause. Snoring can be the basis of innumerable health and relationship problems, disruptions at work, bad temper, and exhaustion, which can eventually escalate into severe depression.
The Negative Impacts of Snoring on Relationships
Finding out the reason for the snoring and determining what the best remedy would be is as easy as monitoring, and changing, certain dietary, sleeping and lifestyle habits. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies and treatments available to combat this, and the snoring need never escalate into a crisis.
Snoring, as well as the effect it can have on both the person snoring and the effects on his or her sleeping partner, may vary from person to person, but ultimately the effect is almost always of a negative nature. Research shows that the predominant sufferers are men – for every two women that snore, there are five male counterparts.
Obviously, having a partner that snores can have a harmful impact on a relationship, depending on the tolerance levels of the partner, and also on the severity of the snoring. Considering the statistics, almost 50% of all adults snore at least some of the time, and around half that amount snore all of the time, showing that snoring has a relatively high incidence ratio. While this can be a distinct disadvantage, there are many ways of dealing with snoring that are safe, simple and effective.
The Effects of Snoring on Daily Life
The main grievance caused by the snorer is the lack of sleep this causes the other partner, which in itself could become a definite relationship destroyer. Not getting enough sleep causes irritability and can have a serious impact on daily activities, especially work, in the long term.
Obviously, the parties concerned can sleep in separate rooms, especially if the relationship is of a platonic nature such as in the case of roommates, but if sleeping apart is not a long-term solution, this in itself can have negative consequences on even the closest of relationships, irrespective of their nature.
Also, studies have shown that a diminished sex drive is experienced by people who snore excessively, and a lack of sleep will also, in time, lead to other health issues, as well as decreased productivity and possibly even accidents brought on by delayed reaction due to exhaustion. Ultimately, the lack of undisturbed sleep can result in depression and discontent.
Recognise and Avoid the Snoring 'Triggers'
Snoring occurs as a result of the upper airway tissues at the back of the throat becoming relaxed during sleep. These tissues pulsate every time a breath is taken, the sound of which is reminiscent of a wind instrument being played in the back of the throat, since the flow of air is severely impeded.
There are many different reasons why some people snore and others don’t, most of them avoidable. An example is drinking alcohol before retiring for the night, which exacerbates snoring, as do sedatives (including anti-histamines), because these have a relaxing effect on the throat muscles, which in due course leads to more snoring.
Sleeping on the side, as opposed to the back, is also very important, as the flesh around the throat relaxes when sleeping flat on the back, and causes a blockage to the airways. This applies mostly to moderate snorers, where heavy snorers are concerned whether on the back or the side makes little difference. One way of avoiding rolling over is to apply the "tennis ball trick" – by sewing a tennis ball into the pajamas of the snorer, they are likely to unconsciously roll back onto their sides.
Another significant detail is to avoid smoking, as research shows that a high percentage of people who snore also smoke. Also, sleeping on a smaller pillow lessens the likelihood of snoring as larger pillows aggravate the situation, and if the snorer suffers at all from allergies and the snoring seems worse during hay fever season, it is advisable to remove all feather pillows, as well as flowers, from the room.
Nasal and Herbal Remedies and Aids to Help Alleviate Snoring
A nasal decongestant, lubricant spray or nasal strips can assist with allergy suffering, although remember to avoid anti-histamine medication. There are other products available which are natural and effective, such as herbal supplements in tablet form, although with these, especially where dietary supplements are concerned, care must be taken in case of hypersensitivity and allergic reaction, which would simply intensify the snoring.
It is important to keep the nasal channel moist, and this can be achieved by breathing in steam, or making use of a humidifier. Burn essential oils which aid in the process of keeping the passages open, such as citrus and ylang ylang, and keep an unstoppered container of marjoram next to the bed during the night to facilitate a peaceful night's sleep.
Resources:
Stoppard, Miriam Health and Body Pan Macmillan (1981)
Hutton, Deborah Health for Life Crown (1994)
For more on this topic, see: http://mellissabushby.suite101.com/snoring-remedies-and-the-available-options-a256043
Mellissa Bushby - Mellissa Bushby is an author, illustrator and ceramicist. She studied Fine Art for four years, and her newest book release is January ...
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