Want to turn down the volume on noisy nighttime breathing? Try these strategies (14 Photos)
Mary Bolster on Jul 2, 2012 at 12:51PM
chime in now
If you snore, you’re probably the last person to know. The first is your partner, and if he or she says you’re snoring, don’t dismiss it. If you sleep alone, it’s harder to know if you snore, though one clue is consistently feeling sleepy during the day. If you’re allowing yourself eight hours of sleep each night, but not feeling refreshed, snoring may be the culprit.
When something blocks your breathing -- throat muscles being too relaxed or another issue that narrows the airway -- the tissues at the top of your airway vibrate causing those loud sounds. Whether the clues are overt (spousal complaints) or subtle (daytime fatigue), check in with your doctor -- or even a sleep specialist -- to determine the cause of your snoring and get it under control. In the meantime, there are several things you can do on your own to reduce how much snoring (and avoid the wrath of your partner).
