Snoring can ruin the sleep of millions of South Carolinians, and it doesn’t do the snorer any good, either. Sleep expert Dr. Robert Puchalski says vibrations in the throat cause snoring, and by the passing of air through a tight space in the upper airway, in the way that wind instruments create sound. At least half of people snore, according to USC sleep specialist Dr. Antoinette Rutherford. That includes 10 percent of children, who manifest the effects of snoring differently than adults: they become hyper rather than tired, and thus cannot pay as close attention in class, causing their grades to be affected. Rutherford advises snoring children be evaluated by a professional in addition to adults.
There is a range of treatments, including oral appliances and surgery, to correct snoring, but Puchalski lists some natural ways to reduce or eliminate snoring: lose weight, avoid alcohol and other sedatives, experiment with body positioning in bed. Often, sleeping sitting upright will help reduce snoring. According to Rutherford, everyone can be cured of snoring, it’s just a matter of finding what method is most effective for each individual.
