I am now 70 years old having snoring problem since many years.
I sleep well but the sound is nuisance to others. Please suggest cure.

Question

Sir, let me assure you that you are not alone! 50% of men over the age of 50 years will have snoring- this by itself is not a disease! With age, the tone of the muscles in the neck becomes loose, the tongue tends to fall back and the palate tends to flutter thus causing snoring. You should ensure that you loose any excess weight you may have put on. Try sleeping on your side rather than on your back- you can put a pillow behind you to avoid turning over again in your sleep. Avoid taking alcohol or sleeping pills, they may make the snoring worse.
A visit to your local ENT Specialist would also be helpful. He/She can check that you have no growths or masses in the nose or structural problems of the airway which might be causing snoring. You also need to rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome- this is a condition in which a person snores loudly during sleep and then the air passage gets obstructed, causing his breathing to stop temporarily. The person is usually unaware (as he is sleeping!) but other family members can usually provide sufficient information on the sleeping pattern.
Best regards and God Bless!

Kabir Bakshi · Accepted Answer

Sir, let me assure you that you are not alone! 50% of men over the age of 50 years will have snoring- this by itself is not a disease! With age, the tone of the muscles in the neck becomes loose, the tongue tends to fall back and the palate tends to flutter thus causing snoring. You should ensure that you loose any excess weight you may have put on. Try sleeping on your side rather than on your back- you can put a pillow behind you to avoid turning over again in your sleep. Avoid taking alcohol or sleeping pills, they may make the snoring worse.
A visit to your local ENT Specialist would also be helpful. He/She can check that you have no growths or masses in the nose or structural problems of the airway which might be causing snoring. You also need to rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome- this is a condition in which a person snores loudly during sleep and then the air passage gets obstructed, causing his breathing to stop temporarily. The person is usually unaware (as he is sleeping!) but other family members can usually provide sufficient information on the sleeping pattern.
Best regards and God Bless!

Sandhya Krishnamurthy · Answer

Hi,
Please follow these tips to stop snoring:
- Reduce your weight if you are obese. - Perform pranayama (breathing exercises) everyday.
- Quit smoking which irritates the mucosal layer of the nose and throat and causes blockage and results in snoring. - Quit alcohol and sedatives which relax the throat muscles and results in snoring.
- Sleep on sides instead on back.
- Elevate the head by using a thick pillow which eases the breathing.
- Clear the nose before going to bed.
- Establish regular sleep pattern.
- Keep the bedroom air moist by using humidifier; as dry air irritates the mucosal membrane in the nose and throat.
- Perform throat exercises like repeating the vowels a, e, i, o, you loudly for 2-3 mins few times a day or keeping the tongue behind the teeth and moving it backwards - 3-4 times a day.
- Anti snoring appliances can also be used.

I am now 70 years old having snoring problem since many years. I sleep well but the sound is nuisance to others. Please suggest cure.