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Hi, I'm Janet Kennedy. I'm a licensed clinical psychologist and sleep specialist in New York
City. You can find out more about me and my work on my website, nycsleepdoctor.com. Snoring
is a huge problem and a lot of people are affected by it. There are a lot of reasons
people snore, and the first step is to really figure out why it is that you are snoring.
Talk to your doctor because you'll be able to get a referral to the appropriate specialist.
You might need a sleep study to be evaluated for a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. You
might also need to see an ENT if you have allergies that need treatment or if you have
a deviated septum or your tonsils and adenoids are inflamed. Those treatments can make a
big difference in snoring if that's what's causing your problem. In the meantime, try
sleeping on your side because sleeping on your back makes your snore a lot worse. So
people even go so far as to attach tennis balls and a sock to keep them sleep on their
side at night. That's a little extreme but if you are having trouble, you might try it.
Using a neti pot or sailing spray can help to flush out any allergens in your nasal passages
and also shrink any irritation. You can also trying using Breathe Right strips or other
strips for the outside of your nose. Sometimes it can help to keep your nasal passages open
during the night and improve your snoring. There are some pillow available on the market
that provide better support for your neck and help you to keep your airway open at night.
And if all else fails, try getting a white noise machine or earplugs for your partner,
and it might save your relationship.