Smoking, Drinking and Snoring

Sometimes the key to eliminating a problem is to make a change somewhere else first. When it comes to snoring this is no exception. It may be a lifestyle problem that makes you snore at night. If this has become enough of a problem that you are ready to makes some changes, the first step will be to look at certain aspects of your life. In particular, do you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes?

Sometimes it is funny to think that no matter how much proof there is that smoking is bad for your health; people nonetheless continue this very addictive habit. Perhaps the realization that it is not just bad for your health but affects your ability to sleep will be what it takes to convince you to stop smoking. It is well documented that smoking cigarettes is a contributing factor to nighttime snoring. Smoking adversely affects the airway by increasing the resistance felt and impeding the normal activity. As well, it makes mucus that sits in the throat and can affect the width of the airway. The more this is blocked, the more the possibility for a night of snoring. This should make a person think twice about smoking. Interestingly this can also be caused by secondhand smoke, but less so. The more a person smokes the more they will snore. Some studies have shown that smoking causes intense irritation of the throat that also increases snoring.

Some people enjoy a relaxing drink with a meal. Perhaps it is a few drinks when out for a social time or celebrating at home when something good has happened. Others may wish to share a bottle of wine during a romantic evening. Then there are those who feel that a little drink before bed will help them relax and sleep better. After all alcohol can be a useful sedative. The truth is that alcohol only allows you a few restful hours of sleep before adding to that pattern of restlessness and disruption. Unfortunately, this is then often followed by trouble with drinking and snoring. The alcohol anesthetizes the throat muscles allowing them to collapse. Alcohol also dilates the blood vessels, which affects the tissue in the throat causing it to swell. You put these two circumstances together and you have constriction of the airway, which, of course, causes snoring.

Other studies claim that a smoker is more likely to drink alcohol. It may be the consequences of an addictive personality or the party spirit. Either way it is an unhealthy mix. It is a difficult course to steer through, but the truth is that giving up some of the things you enjoy will improve your general health and ability to get a good night sleep. It will allow you to give your partner a better night’s sleep by helping to control or maybe even eliminate the dreadful noise of sleeps great villain; the snore.