Snoring And Related Factors
Women are less likely to snore than men are. However,
this may not be the case for those women who have experienced
menopause. A woman's muscle tone often diminishes as they become
older and put on weight. Research has found that by the age of 70
years, women snore as much as men of that age because of these
problems.
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Being only slightly overweight by just a few
kilograms tends to make a person snore. This is because the fatty
tissue around the neck can squeeze the airway and prevent the air
from flowing in and out freely. Weight loss and reducing the fat
content in the body can help alleviate snoring although this can not
be done by diet just on its own. It’s a good idea for a snorer to
commence a sensible exercise program as well.
Another common reason for people snoring is alcohol. Alcohol travels
to all areas of the body and tends to slow down the responses of the
brain causing the muscles to relax.
Since alcohol also acts as a depressant, the added relaxation of the
muscles cause the oropharynx to collapse, this then causes more
snoring. Alcohol can also cause obstructive sleep apnea where a
person stops breathing for short periods of time during their sleep.
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The person's night’s sleep is interrupted by not
breathing for short periods of time. If you suffer from this
condition, it will worsen if you do not make important
healthy changes to your lifestyle.
Alcohol can also cause irritation and
congestion in the nasal airways which increase the
resistance when breathing. Since alcohol has a high calorie
content, heavy drinkers are often overweight, this also
contributes to their snoring problem.
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Those people who are unable to stop drinking
should try and limit its effects by having their last
alcoholic drink at least four hours before going to be. This
will provide the body with sufficient time to reduce the
alcohol’s effects and help promote snore free sleep.
Most of us have enough muscle tone to prevent the airway
from collapsing during sleep although this can alter for
those who are taking sedatives. You should always consult
your doctor for a non-sedating alternative, if you already
experience problems with snoring.
Another common factor for snoring is cigarette smoke which
irritates the nasal cavity lining and throat which causes
catarrh and swelling. It is difficult to breathe when the
nasal passage becomes congested and the airflow through the
nose is decreased. |
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The more cigarettes you smoke a day increases
the risk of snoring. This is also the same passive smokers;
they can also suffer from inflammation of the nose and
throat passage. Children of smokers are often affected by
this problem.
Again, those who are unable to cease smoking should try and
have their last cigarette four hours before they go to bed
to enable their body to have sufficient time to reduce the
negative effects the cigarette smoke has had. This will help
to promote a healthy restful snore free sleep.
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