Are you looking for snoring relief? Here’s an overview about snoring and what you can do about it. Amy Hendel from iVillage.com talks about why we snore and different treatments that are available.  It is a serious subject this is a serious disease which causes marriage break ups and health problems. It’s not just men who snore. In the news, statistics suggest that 45% of men and 30% of women snore.

At the base of the problem is restrictive breathing. Any blockages in your nose, mouth and throat can cause snoring. Snoring becomes more serious when the problems are further down in the back of the throat.

How do you know if you have sleep apnea?

So what’s annoying and whats serious? You can have your spouse do a sleep diary where they are watching you. If you stop breathing while you’re sleeping and gasp for air, you probably have sleep apnea. Also, if your a true sleep apnea snorer, you will still snore on your side.

Here are some devices to help you stop snoring.

• Cpap machine -They are used if you are a sleep apnea suffer but not if you’re a light snorer. If you have ruled out all other causes of your snoring you would go for a sleep study. Your doctor writes a prescription after a sleep study and you would be fitted with a  Cpap mask. Insurance does pay for this device.
• Mouth pieces – They basically all work by moving the tongue forward to stop the vibration within your throat. These can be adjusted to fit your mouth.
• Nasal strips and nostril expanders – They work if you are a nasal snorer. Do a quick check to find out if you are.
• Nasal moisturizers and sprays – If your snoring is brought on by a bad cold, allergies or asthma, you can moisten the airways. This stops the vibrations in back of the throat.

What should you do about your snoring?  To find relief, it’s important to figure out why you snore since the cause isn’t always the same for everyone. You can narrow down the problem by doing these simple tests. Next find a remedy based on those tests. You can also have your spouse  do a sleep diary of your sleeping habits. If you live alone, tape your self while you sleep. Next go to  see a doctor who specializes in sleep apnea, or nasal snoring. You can also look under “ear, nose and throat doctor” in the yellow pages. They will diagnose your problem and possibly get you to do a sleep study.  Looking for more snoring relief info that actually works? Here’s a relatively new procedure called the Pillar Procedure which is now available in New York.