The agonizing noises some people make trying to breathe while asleep are not a laughing matter. When the interruptions begin to negatively impact personal relationships or work, an underlying physical condition may need correcting. A Chicago sleep medicine center helps people find lasting solutions for this disturbing pattern.
Although the actual mechanisms producing snoring noises vary individually, it occurs when air cannot flow through mouth and nose. This blockage can be the result of something as simple as an awkward sleeping position, or by excess fat deposits around the throat. Aging commonly causes throat narrowing and loss of muscle tone.
More men than women experience this syndrome, which is encouraged by excess body weight in combination with poor physical condition. Some prescription medications, as well as alcohol, inhibit normal breathing, and smoking irritates the throat and lungs. Sinus and nasal blockages prevent normal air intake, resulting in mouth-breathing.
Because the problem is so universal, new products promising instant relief are regularly marketed. Oral prosthetic devices have produced good results for many users, but actually address the symptoms rather than eliminating basic causes. Real progress in the battle usually involves smoking cessation, a realistic exercise plan, and weight loss.
Non-medical solutions include using nasal strips or a humidifier, assuming less restrictive sleeping positions, or using over-the-counter antihistamines. They may clear nasal passages, but do not stop apnea, a nightly interruption associated with snoring that feels like repeated suffocation or strangling, and can indicate other physical problems.
For those who cannot find a working solution, a medical sleep center appointment may be the key. While surgery is still recommended to correct some problems, new techniques can shrink excess throat tissue with less trauma. Loud snoring can be marginally funny in a sit-com, but it is not humorous to those who must struggle with the problem every night.
Although the actual mechanisms producing snoring noises vary individually, it occurs when air cannot flow through mouth and nose. This blockage can be the result of something as simple as an awkward sleeping position, or by excess fat deposits around the throat. Aging commonly causes throat narrowing and loss of muscle tone.
More men than women experience this syndrome, which is encouraged by excess body weight in combination with poor physical condition. Some prescription medications, as well as alcohol, inhibit normal breathing, and smoking irritates the throat and lungs. Sinus and nasal blockages prevent normal air intake, resulting in mouth-breathing.
Because the problem is so universal, new products promising instant relief are regularly marketed. Oral prosthetic devices have produced good results for many users, but actually address the symptoms rather than eliminating basic causes. Real progress in the battle usually involves smoking cessation, a realistic exercise plan, and weight loss.
Non-medical solutions include using nasal strips or a humidifier, assuming less restrictive sleeping positions, or using over-the-counter antihistamines. They may clear nasal passages, but do not stop apnea, a nightly interruption associated with snoring that feels like repeated suffocation or strangling, and can indicate other physical problems.
For those who cannot find a working solution, a medical sleep center appointment may be the key. While surgery is still recommended to correct some problems, new techniques can shrink excess throat tissue with less trauma. Loud snoring can be marginally funny in a sit-com, but it is not humorous to those who must struggle with the problem every night.
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Find details about the advantages you get when you consult a sleep doctor and more information about a reputable Chicago sleep medicine center at http://www.sleepmedcenter.com now.
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