Snoring Problem Tests

Do you or a loved one have a snoring problem? Even though snorers are the target of jokes, research shows that snoring is connected with serious medical conditions like high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks.

The risk of these medical conditions rises the longer a person snores. Also, studies show that snorers are more likely to have car accidents than non-snorers, due to greater daytime sleepiness.

In addition to all this, snoring is often a source of friction in relationships causing both bed partners disrupted sleep, daytime tiredness and irritability. When the problem is extreme, partners sleep in separate rooms and lose intimacy.

There are many reasons for snoring. Try these tests to work out what type of snorer you are:

Test for nasal snoring

Stand before a mirror and press one nostril closed with your finger. Keeping your mouth closed, breathe in through the other nostril. Does the nostril seem to collapse? Repeat this process with the other nostril.

If you can't breathe through your nose well, you may have a stuffy nose due to allergies. Common nasal allergens are feather pillows and bedding, dust mites, pet hair, household chemicals, grasses and fragrances.

You will need to treat your allergy long-term, but in the meantime, try taking a nasal product to clear the passages.

Smoking can also cause nasal swelling and irritation.

Test for mouth breathing

If you breathe easily through your nose, perhaps you breathe through your mouth due to habit. Open your mouth and try making a snoring sound. Can you make the same sound with your mouth closed? If you can only do it with your mouth open, you could be a mouth-breather. You need to teach yourself to sleep with your mouth closed. Chin-up strips could be helpful for this.

Test for tongue snoring

This is were the tongue relaxes into the air passage, obstructing breathing during sleep. If your snoring is worse when you lie on your back, you are most likely a tongue-snorer. Another test is to stick your tongue out as far as you can, hold it with your teeth and try to make a snoring sound through your nose. If the sound you make is quieter when your tongue is forward, this also suggests you are a tongue-snorer.

Carrying extra weight can make this worse. Just losing 10% of your body weight can make a huge difference to your snoring problem. Also try sleeping on your side.

This type of snoring is also worsened by sedatives and alcohol prior to bedtime as these can relax the tongue muscles too much. Test this by eliminating alcohol at night for a few days.

A mouthpiece for snoring may help to reduce your snoring if you are in this category.

Multiple causes

You may fit into more than one of these categories, requiring a range of treatments.