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STOP SNORING NOW!

Everyone agrees that snoring is annoying – both those who snore and those who have to listen to the snoring. In fact, research conducted by the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic showed that 85% of snorers exceed 38 decibels -- which is equivalent to the noise of highway traffic! But did you know that snoring can be life threatening as well?

According to the British Medical Journal, 30% of people over the age of 30 snore, with the numbers rising to 40% in middle age. The National Sleep Foundation conducted a poll in 2005 in which they learned that two-thirds of partnered adults say their partner snores, and six out of ten admit to snoring themselves!

Some snoring may actually be a sign of sleep apnea – where the snorer quits breathing for a period of time. If you or a loved one are suffering from snoring the night away, talk to your doctor. He or she can determine whether or not you have anything to worry about. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea complications may be present in as great as 20-40% of those who snore. Additionally, a person suffering from untreated sleep apnea is up to four times more likely to have a stroke and up to three times more likely to have heart disease.

If you find out that you do not have sleep apnea-related snoring issues, consider these simple tips to help you snore less:

Don’t sleep on a big stack of pillows. It distorts your airway and makes breathing more difficult.

Sleep on your stomach or side. There are pillows available specifically designed to help you do this. Check some out at http://www.putanendtosnoring.com/pillow.htm.

Make it difficult to sleep on your back. Attach something to your pajamas, like a ball on the back that will cause discomfort and wake you up if you roll onto your back.

Change your waking-life by losing weight, eating right, exercising more, stop smoking, etc. Neglecting your fitness, diet, weight and health can make you more likely to snore.

If you’re taking any medications, ask your doctor if they might be making you snore. If so, see about switching to a different medication.

Is congestion from allergies or a cold causing your snoring? Certain over the counter medications may help. Find out more at http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/detail/drug/ug2505/detail.htm.

If you live in area that is particularly dry, add some moisture to your bedroom with a humidifier. This may keep your throat from drying out and therefore help prevent snoring.

Avoid eating right before bedtime. A full stomach can put undue pressure on your diaphragm, which can affect your breathing.

Many former snorers have had good luck with the over the counter nasal strips available at most drugstores.

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."

Benjamin Franklin
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"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."

Hal Borland
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"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

Edith Lovejoy Pierce
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"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential."

Ellen Goodman
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"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action."

Frank Tibolt
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