Snoring occurs when we can not move air through our nose and throat during sleep. This results in vibrations of the tissues in the back of the throat causing the loud and obnoxious sound. Snoring is a common issue seen in both men and women with about 40 percent of the American population experiencing snoring in their lives.
Snoring is more common in men but don’t worry ladies, snoring is said to subside by the time your significant other turns 70!
Snoring takes a heavy tole on our sleep, as it robs you from getting good quality of sleep which can lead to daytime fatigue, irritability, decreased ability to deal with stress, and other health conditions. It can also create some irritability from your partner as well! We all snore for different reasons so it is important to find the causes behind your snoring. Then you can find the right solution to fix your snoring problem!
Common Causes of Snoring:
Nasal and Sinus Issues: Nasal blockages and runny/stuffy noses make breathing in difficult which can create a vacuum of air in the throat that causes snoring.
Physical Build: This is completely based on your physical attributes such as a narrowed nasal septum, a cleft palate, enlarged adenoids, etc. These are all due to your genetics. But just because your physical attributes can cause you to snore, this does not mean that you cannot control your snoring with the corrective lifestyle changes.
Alcohol, Smoking, and Meds: Alcohol intake, smoking, and certain medications can create a muscle relaxation effect which can cause snoring.
Spinal Structure: If your spinal structure is dysfunctional or degenerated, it can create structural issues to the soft tissues that attach to the spine.
Overweight: Fatty tissue and lack of muscle tone can contribute to snoring. If you’re not overweight but tend to carry excess weight in your neck and face, losing some weight and exercising can be all you need to do to stop your snoring.
Is there a natural way to get rid of my snoring?
If excess weight or unhealthy habits are causing the issues, then as mentioned above, these are very fixable, but what about the other causes of snoring? What if the snoring didn’t start until after having kids or working at your desk job for a few years? Snoring that happens later in life not due to weight or habits is generally due to incorrect spinal structure.
For example, if you work at a desk job, you probably sit for the better portion of the day. For most people, it’s hard to sit up with correct posture for long periods of time and much easier to slouch.
This slouching compresses the tissues on the front of our neck and the spine confirms to this incorrect position.
The best natural way to correct this is through Chiropractic care.
How can Chiropractic care stop my snoring?
Chiropractic care realigns the spine correcting the poor posture adaptation. It does this by gently moving the bone back into position. Often times, Chiropractic care isn’t a one time fix.
In our example above, it probably took months if not years for posture to get to the point of causing snoring. The body is now used to this new position so once the posture is correct, the tissue around the bone will pull it back out of place.
Fortunately, Chiropractors also work with patients on soft tissue remodeling in order completely correct and prevent future snoring.
For more information, check out our article on “What Should I look for When Choosing a Chiropractor?” or Schedule an Appointment below!
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Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic is located in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area specifically in Collegedale, TN, a short distance from Ooltewah, Cleveland, East Brainerd, East Ridge, Ringgold, Apison, and Harrison.
Dr. Ryan Lee is the practicing chiropractic physician at Reach Health and Wellness Chiropractic. For his full bio, click here.
*This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Ryan Lee and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Dr. Lee does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
