If you or a loved one are currently experiencing late-night awakenings, sleep disturbances, and fatigue during the daytime, you might be dealing with sleep apnea. You might be noticing more headaches, irritability, and issues staying focused during the day, which can affect your health, job, and family. When snoring gets so loud that it affects sleep quality, it’s time to manage and treat it appropriately.
Thankfully, there are some natural ways to manage snoring before moving on to determine if you’re dealing with sleep apnea. Let’s check out a few of the ways to remedy snoring!
7 Natural Ways to Manage Snoring
Exercise
Losing weight will help with snoring since added weight can narrow the respiratory system, negatively affecting airflow.
Change sleeping positions
If you’re typically a back sleeper, it might be time to find another sleeping position. For example, try a side-lying position or prop yourself up if you can’t sleep without being on your back.
Decrease alcohol consumption
Having a beer or two before bed can certainly make you tired; however, alcohol relaxes muscles in the body, including ones in the airway, which can then cause snoring.
Use a humidifier
If you’re waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth, consider putting a humidifier in your room. Dryness can cause snoring, and the humidifier can add moisture to the air in your room.
Drink water
Our bodies are made up of mostly water. Staying hydrated throughout the day not only boosts health and normal body functions but can keep the airway lubricated as you sleep at night.
Stop smoking
If you light up regularly, you’ll probably notice snoring more often than not. This is because smoking inflames the tissues in the airway, which can lead to snoring.
Take a warm shower or bath before bed
Similar to the idea behind the humidifier, the steam from a shower can open the airways. This is especially helpful if you notice you’re having congestion issues or are dealing with allergies.
Sleep Apnea Testing
If you’ve incorporated these tips into your daily routine and still notice that snoring is affecting you adversely, it’s time to think about testing for sleep apnea. But, of course, we know what you’re thinking - it’s probably awkward to go somewhere and get tested while someone watches you snore, right?
Thankfully, technology has made this process easier. ApneaMed has a home sleep test that allows you to stay within the comfort of your own home while testing for sleep apnea.
Essentially, once the sleep test is ordered and delivered to you, you just need to set it up within your bedroom and use it at night while you sleep. You then package up the test and send it back to ApneaMed, and the specialists will be able to break down all of the information regarding your sleep quality and possible sleep apnea, from your respiration and heart rate to how you breathe and when you snore.
Shortly after that, you’ll get a diagnosis from a sleep physician, letting you know if you have sleep apnea. It’s as simple as that!
Bottom Line
Testing can be uncomfortable in an unusual setting, but home sleep tests make it easy to stay within the comforts of your own home and bed and still get the answers that you need regarding the possibility of sleep apnea. Once you get your diagnosis, you can seek treatment as necessary and improve your sleep quality!