Snoring can be really embarrassing for the person who snores and very annoying for anyone who has to listen to it every night. But what actually causes snoring? Why does someone make that unpleasant noise while sleeping?

Snoring happens when there’s a blockage or narrowing in the airway of your nose or mouth. This causes the air to move in a not-so-smooth way, making the tissues vibrate as the air flows through to your lungs. These vibrations create the sound we know as snoring.

When you’re asleep and inhale, the air passes through your mouth and goes through the soft palate, which is where your tongue and throat meet. If this area collapses, it becomes narrow or even blocked, making it hard for the air to flow. The air then pushes through the soft palate, causing the vibrating sound. The narrower the passage, the louder the snoring will be.

If you’re wondering why snoring only happens when you’re asleep, it’s because your throat muscles are relaxed at that time. When you’re awake, these muscles are active and keep the tissues in place. But when you sleep, the muscles relax and let the tissues collapse.

Snoring can cause a lot of problems, like poor sleep, insomnia, daytime fatigue, and health issues for both the person who snores and their partner. If you sleep next to someone who snores, you know how frustrating it can be to lose sleep over it. So, finding ways to stop or reduce snoring becomes pretty important.

Although there aren’t any specific medicines to stop snoring, there are many natural remedies and devices you can try. Let’s look at some of the best ways to control and cure snoring.

Nasal strips are an option. They help relieve nasal congestion that might be causing snoring. You can find these strips at most drugstores. They help air pass more smoothly through your nose, but if your snoring is caused by throat muscles collapsing, nasal strips might not be the best solution.

Then there are mouthpieces, which keep your lower jaw positioned forward while sleeping. This can help with snoring, but they might make you drool or even change your jaw line, so you should talk to your dentist before trying one.

There are also sprays containing menthol and peppermint to reduce nasal congestion and keep airways open throughout the night.

If devices don’t work, you can try some lifestyle changes and natural remedies. For instance, not smoking can help, as smoking can cause the throat tissues to swell. It’s even better if you can quit smoking altogether.

Sleeping on your side can also help, preventing your throat muscles from collapsing. Using pillows to elevate your head and legs can keep your airways open. A humidifier might help keep the air moist if you’re dealing with dryness in your mouth and throat. Losing weight can be beneficial too, as extra weight can increase the chance of snoring.

Pranayama is a type of breathing exercise that can help you take in more oxygen, reducing snoring and offering other health benefits. Herbal anti-snoring pills might reduce nasal congestion, but they might not be effective if you have other issues.

So, these are some steps and changes you can consider to control and cure snoring.