Health

I've started snoring. How do I stop?

By: Alex Chediak, MD
Apr 20, 2008 - 5:09:32 PM

I've started snoring. How do I stop?

Start by curtailing the above issues if they apply to you, and don't cheat by pumping your nose full of a nasal spray such as Afrin or Neo-Synephrine, which can irritate nasal passages and crank up the snoring volume. Try a nasal dilator or a breathing strip instead, as they open nasal passages and allow you to breathe more easily. Also, lose a few pounds. Weight gain is the single greatest predictor for the onset of habitual snoring, according to a recent study by Australian researchers. But if DIY treatments fail, schedule an appointment with your doctor. An upper-respiratory infection or sleep apnea might be to blame, and studies link the latter to a host of cardiovascular ills, including heart disease.

Alex Chediak, M.D. Dr. Chediak is the director of the Miami Sleep Disorders Center and president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.


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