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Snoring

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Snoring

Snoring occurs during sleep when the muscles in your airways relax and become narrow. This causes a noisy vibration as you breathe1.

DESCRIPTION

Snoring happens because the tongue, mouth, throat or airways in your nose relax and narrow when you are asleep.

You are more likely to snore if you:

  • are overweight
  • smoke
  • drink too much alcohol
  • sleep on your back

While snoring is common, it can be a sign of a more serious health problem such as obstructive sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea needs medical attention. It can make you tired, putting you at risk of accident or injury, and it increases your risk of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart attack2.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Your GP can help to determine if your snoring is a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea. This is a treatable condition, and there are a variety of treatment options that can reduce the symptoms. Your GP may refer you to a sleep disorders specialist or sleep clinic where you may be asked to participate in an overnight sleep study.

Here are some self-care strategies to help reduce snoring3:

  • Reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol, a muscle relaxant, can slacken the tissues of your throat while you sleep.
  • Achieve a healthy body weight. Extra fat tissue around your neck and throat can narrow the airways. Losing some weight may help to open your airways.
  • Discuss your medications with your Pharmacist. Medications that relax muscles can make snoring worse. For example, tranquilizers such as lorazepam (Ativan) and diazepam (Valium) can have this effect.
  • Reduce nasal congestion. Mucus constricts the nasal airways. Before bed, rinse your blocked sinuses with saline. If you have allergies, antihistamines may help to reduce symptoms
  • Adjust your sleep position. Sleeping on your side, instead of on your back, helps to keep your airways open. Special pillows and rubber wedges are available to help you sleep on your side.
  • Quit smoking. Snoring is often associated with smoking.

Devices are available to keep your mouth open or tongue positioned properly during sleep. Nasal strips can also help to reduce the severity of snoring by keeping your nasal passages open. In specific cases, surgery may be required4.

PHARMACIST’S ADVICE

Ask your Pharmacist for advice and consider the self-care strategies listed above.

  1. If you need to lose weight, ask your Pharmacist for advice.
  2. Ask your Pharmacist for advice about quitting smoking.
  3. Avoid taking sleeping tablets or tranquilisers if possible as these can worsen the severity of snoring.
  4. Avoid driving or operating machinery if you are feeling very tired.
  5. Ask your Pharmacist for advice about nasal strips to keep your nasal passages open.
  6. If you suffer from allergies, antihistamines may help to relieve nasal and sinus congestion and reduce soring.
  7. Saline washes and sprays can also help to clear mucus from your nose and sinuses. Ask your Pharmacist for advice.
     

NATUROPATH

Ask your Naturopath for advice and consider the self-care strategies listed above. -  If you need to lose weight, ask your Naturopath for advice. - Ask your Naturopath for advice about quitting smoking. - Avoid taking sleeping tablets or tranquilisers if possible as these can worsen the severity of snoring. - Avoid driving or operating machinery if you are feeling very tired. - Ask your Naturopath for advice about nasal strips to keep your nasal passages open. - Saline washes and sprays can help to clear mucus from your nose and sinuses. Ask your Naturopath for advice.
 

Source 

  1. Snoring. SNORE Australia. Cited May 2020. Available from URL: https://www.snoreaustralia.com.au/snoring.php
  2. How to stop snoring. Health Direct. Federal Health Dept Australia. Last updated Aug 2020. Available from URL: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/how-to-stop-snoring
  3. Snoring solutions. Harvard Health Publishing. Available from URL: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/snoring-solutions
  4. How to stop snoring. Health Direct. Federal Health Dept Australia. Last updated Aug 2018. Available from URL: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/how-to-stop-snoring
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