While it’s impossible to know exactly how many people suffer from snoring, the effect it has on both the sufferer and their family can be enormous. Disrupted sleep can lead to lowered immune systems, irritability, and resentment. Snoring should never be ignored until a doctor has been consulted, as it is sometimes a symptom of a potentially dangerous condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. However, if the snoring is found to be harmless, there are ways to lessen or prevent it. Exploring the physical cause of the snoring is the first step to prevention, followed by making behavioral and lifestyle changes.

Pinpoint the Physical Cause

Understanding the root cause of a particular individual’s snoring is the first step. Most snoring is caused by a relaxation of flesh in the neck, which then falls into the airway and flaps noisily. Other causes of snoring include enlarged adenoids or tonsils, poor muscle tone, and sleeping flat on your back. While there are several strategies anyone can try at home, knowing how to prevent snoring is largely a matter of finding the root cause. A sleep study prescribed by a doctor is often the first step to identifying the root cause of the snoring. Once the cause is established, a treatment plan is the next step.

Make Behavioral and Lifestyle Changes

Should the sleep study show no signs of apnea, the snoring person is often advised of several strategies that may or may not work to decrease the instances of snoring. Sleeping in a different position may help, as may quitting smoking and decreasing alcohol consumption. As snoring is often caused by excess flesh in the throat, losing weight can also decrease both the volume and frequency of snoring episodes.

Knowing how to prevent snoring is the first step toward deep, uninterrupted sleep for both the sufferer and his or her family. Diagnosing the physical cause and the making the changes necessary to prevent further snoring is crucial to the health and well-being of sufferers and their families.