Snoring can be an annoyance to those who have to sleep next to the snorer. It can also have serious effects on the snorer who does not have to listen to his/her own snoring. A condition called sleep apnea may be at the bottom of a lot of people’s snoring. Sleep apnea is a disruption of sleep when someone misses taking one or more breaths. This condition can cause several different illnesses. High blood pressure and cardiovascular accidents (aka strokes) are two of the more serious diseases caused by sleep apnea. It can also cause heart failure in snorers so it is important to treat snoring to prevent these more serious consequences.

Another problem, sleep apnea, causes is the frequent waking of the snorer. This prevents a snorer from getting a restful night’s sleep and they are not always aware of the fact that they have been awakened during the night. The next day they are tired and feel sleep-deprived. Some snorers even get into the habit of preventing themselves from entering into a deep sleep stage such as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep because they are aware that they have trouble breathing during sleep. This condition can be caused by the muscles of the throat and the tongue. When these muscles become too relaxed during deep sleep it results in snoring and an obstruction of the airways. The snorer prevents this by remaining in lighter sleep stages. It is not in the snorer’s best interest to prevent deep sleep stages. The REM stage of sleep is believed to be the stage that aids in retaining memory. For the reasons listed above, it is important for chronic snorers to cure their snoring.

How does one cure snoring? There have been several answers to this question with varying ranges of success. The concern for some people is medication; they may or may not be in favor of taking medication for snoring and would prefer a natural cure for snoring that does not require medication. For these people there is help. Exercises have been discovered that can help cure snoring. These exercises can be found in the e-book, Snore-No-More Cure, in which you will learn how to do exercises that will relieve your snoring. These exercises will eliminate the need for things such as nose clips. These exercises may even prevent the need for surgery. It’s worth a try and would be an incredible money-saver.

Research shows that around 30% of women and 45% of men snore on a regular basis. It’s a very common problem which causes problems for many, not just the snorer, but also a partner who suffers with sleep deprivation for months or years. Many believe that snoring is a minor irritation, but there can be a more serious underlying condition called sleep apnea. In sleep apnea the sleeper will miss one or more breaths, typically a pause in breathing or 10 seconds or more. This can cause problems like tiredness, fatigue and headaches. The more serious side of the condition can result in death in very rare circumstances.

With severe sleep apnea the holding of the breath for a few seconds appears fairly innocent. In severe cases however the breath can be held for 20 seconds or as long as a minute. This can result in a lack of oxygen to the body causing the heart to work harder. Imagine somebody having 30 or more of these episodes per night, you can then understand the toll it may take on one’s body. The condition is more widespread in the obese, estimations are that 70% of obese people may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

As you can see, stopping snoring is a good goal to have. But what causes snoring? When you snore, the flow of air through your nose or mouth is obstructed and can cause the tissues of your throat to vibrate. Snoring is especially common in mouth breathers, persons who breath through their mouth and not their noses at night.

Here are a few ideas that you can put in place as a natural method to reduce your snoring.

• Maintaining a healthy weight is vitally important.

• Always try to avoid sleeping on your back, snoring is worse in that position.

• Try to raise the back of your bed a few inches. This may help to reduce the chances of your tongue falling towards the back of your throat.

• Stop smoking if possible.

• If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies consider using a decongestant. This will allow you to breathe smoothly through your nose, avoiding the need for mouth breathing.

• Consider using a device which will prevent you breathing through your mouth or open up your airway for an unrestricted air flow. There are also pillows available which will keep your head in the correct position for an unobstructed airway, and prevent you from rolling onto your back.

• Get some exercise. Regular exercise can help you lose excess weight, which in turn may help with reducing your snoring.

• Consider using a humidifier in your house. Dry air can cause throat and nasal problems which are conducive to snoring.

Hopefully these few tips will give you some food for thought on how to reduce or eliminate your snoring. If you believe you may have sleep apnea you should visit your doctor and consider getting a sleep test carried out. Sleep apnea can be a serious condition, and it’s not worth taking any chances with your health.