Tag: snoring problems

Snoring Causes and Effects

Snoring Causes and Effects

woman covering her ears with pillow to block out man next to her who is snoring.Snoring occurs as a result of the vibration of respiratory structures of the body. Usually, the sound comes from air movement being obstructed during breathing when sleeping. The sound can be unpleasant to other people in the surrounding environment. But it can also indicate some serious health issues.

If you have never received complains about your snoring habits, you have probably had a bad experience of sleeping with a person who snores. People snore when they sleep because their body muscles, including the muscles in the throat and neck area, relax. The relaxation reduces the space in airwaves causing snoring.

Let’s look at snoring causes and effects so that you have a better understanding of the condition.

What causes snoring?

The obstruction of the air flow can be caused by the following:

  • Bulky throat tissue

Most obese people experience snoring because they have bulky throat tissue. Additionally, children with adenoids as well as large tonsils also snore often.

  • Obstructed nasal airwaves

Some people snore during an allergy season or when they are suffering from a sinus infection. Additionally, natural deformities in the nose or nasal polyps can also obstruct the airflow and cause snoring.

  • Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat

Tongue and throat muscles can relax enough to make them collapse and fall back obstructing the airway. This can happen when consuming sleeping pills, excessive alcohol consumption, and deep sleep. Additionally, aging can cause the throat and tongue muscle to relax.

  • Long soft palate or uvula

A long uvula or a long soft palate can make the space connecting the nose to the throat narrow and when they vibrate, the airway is obstructed causing snoring.

Effects of snoring

Continuous snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea creates the following health problems:

  • Interruptions of breathing

Interruptions of breathing can last for minutes during sleep. The cause of the interruptions is the obstruction of the airwave either totally or partially.

  • Light sleeping

Some people who snore frequently have difficulties going into a restorative, deep sleep because they often wake up many times in a night interfering with the normal pattern of sleep. Additionally, light sleeping will mean you will spend the following day feeling drowsy.

  • Heart straining

If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea for a prolonged length of time, your blood pressure will increase and strain your heart, increasing the chances of a stroke or a heart attack.

Snoring can be treated in any number of ways. Having a good sleep system — mattress and pillows that properly support your body, for example- can be one part of snoring cure.

Four Types of Pillows to Reduce Snoring

Four Types of Pillows to Reduce Snoring

You might believe your pillow is the best because it is so comfortable, but do you feel rested when you wake up each morning? Do you still snore while you sleep? Are you experiencing other issues, like neck, back or shoulder pain?

You may have the most comfortable pillow in the world, but does that pillow help reduce snoring? Do you know what type of pillow you might need? Some questions some of us might ask are, “Does my pillow help with snoring?” or, “Will a wedge pillow help with snoring?”

Even the most comfortable pillows might not be the best options. Eventually, a pillow might begin to feel uncomfortable. Uncomfortable pillows might disturb your sleep or start to cause other problems. Sometimes, you might even feel like you did not sleep much and wake up feeling groggy. Some kinds of pillows might even trigger or cause sleep apnea.

If you snore while you sleep, here are some ways that certain pillows might result in snoring:

  • Your head is not in the proper position while you sleep (head tilts, for example)
  • The pillow just does not fit right into the neck, no matter which way you position it
  • Pillows made from foam could cause sweating, as they might trap in heat – Sweating leads to dehydration, which could result in fatigue and make snoring worse
  • Hard pillows might cause excessive snoring

Also, as time goes on, a pillow becomes dirty, from normal use, and dust mites might get into the pillow, which could cause excessive snoring as well. Allergens in your pillow could cause similar issues.

Having the proper products to lie your had upon is vital for other reasons too. The wrong pillow might worsen ailments you already have.

If you snore during the night, your partner might not be sleeping well either. If you suffer from snoring, or you have sleep apnea (or the signs of it), and nothing has helped, you might want to consider buying a different pillow, one that can reduce snoring.

The following 4 Pillows might be one of your best options to combat snoring:

1. Contour Pillow

  • Supports upper body
  • Keeps the upper body aligned, which helps stop snoring
  • Helps the head positioning – keeps it at just the right height – for better sleeping
  • Has indentations where your shoulders can fit comfortably
  • Works well with people who snore mildly or excessively – reduces snoring
  • Contour pillows are useful because they keep the head positioned properly, which results in more efficient breathing while you sleep – help open airways.

2. Wedge Pillow

  • Helps raise the upper body to the proper position
  • Helps align the spinal cord, which helps open the airways for better breathing
  • Efficiently helps reduce snoring — leaving you feeling well-rested
  • Wedge pillows help people who suffer from acid reflux as well.

3. CPAP Pillow

If you or a loved one snore(s) while sleeping, especially if it is getting more intense, you might want to schedule a visit with your physician and a respiratory specialist. If you have sleep apnea, they might recommend using a CPAP machine and mask to help improve breathing.

While you wear the CPAP oxygen mask, it is important to have proper support of the head and neck – CPAP pillows help support your oxygen mask, so it could help you sleep so much better – wake up feeling rested instead of feeling groggy

Latex Foam Pillow

Regular foam materials might be too soft, which might not offer enough support for your head while you sleep. Therefore, snoring is not reduced but increases and might get louder too.

Additionally, basic foam pillows might not allow air to circulate through them and could trap heat. Those two situations could cause sweating. If you are already struggling to breathe better while you sleep, sweating will only add to your troubles. It could cause dehydration, which enhances snoring.

Latex foam pillows are designed to assist people with slight sleeping problems. The foam helps support the head so that it will not be tilted while sleeping. Sleeping in the proper position, including how the head and neck rest while sleeping, can help open up the airways to help you breathe easier, which leads to a more peaceful sleep and feeling rested every morning.

A latex foam pillow can additionally reduce snoring and help you if you tend to toss and turn all night long.

You might want to discuss your sleeping patterns with your physician and find out what the cause is. Many things can interrupt a person’s sleep. Sleep apnea is one of them. The best pillow is out there to help reduce snoring. If the snoring has been getting worse, though, it could be another issue and is worth looking into. A better pillow could help you sleep much better in the meantime and after discussing things with a doctor.

We have a vast array of pillows, for reducing snoring, for sleep apnea and more. Our pillows, whether you need a latex foam pillow, a wedge pillow, a contour pillow, or a CPAP pillow, we have what you need to get a great night’s sleep again. The pillows mentioned here are the best four pillows to reduce snoring.