Snoring Treatment in Grand Rapids, MI

Snoring is caused by an obstruction of the air passageways. When you are asleep, the muscles in the throat relax, causing the tongue to fall backward. This relaxes the throat and makes it narrower and ‘floppier’. When this happens, and you breathe, it will cause a vibration in the walls of the throat. These vibrations cause the loud and unpleasant sound of snoring. This mostly occurs when you inhale, but it can happen to a lesser extent when you exhale as well.

Obviously if you share a bed, the noise can irritate a partner, but the effects can also be serious. Sometimes the walls of the throat will collapse all the way, causing the airways to become completely closed. This blockage of the airways is what is known as sleep apnea, causing a person to cease breathing completely. Sleep apnea can obviously be quite serious and if severe will require medical attention.

It’s best to consult with a sleep doctor to determine the severity of your snoring. If you only have the occasional mild snoring but feel refreshed upon waking, and it does not affect your day-to-day functioning, you can try some of these methods on your own:

• Avoid tranquilizers, antihistamines and sleeping pills before bed
• Lose weight
• Establish regular sleep patterns
• Avoid alcohol for a minimum of four hours before bed
• Do not eat for three hours before going to bed
• Sleep on your side instead of on your back