No part of the human body functions in isolation. If you’re chronically overweight, those extra pounds can impact nearly every organ in your body. For instance, obese people often accumulate extra fat around the throat, which can worsen snoring. Understanding why this happens sheds light on the root cause of snoring.
Snoring can happen for various reasons, and sometimes they aren’t immediately obvious. Instances like seasonal allergies or illnesses can cause temporary snoring. In these cases, there’s no need to worry as this snoring is usually short-lived. What typically happens is the airways get blocked by tissue, preventing enough air from reaching the lungs.
When you sleep, your muscles relax, including those in your respiratory tract. Usually, these muscles are strong enough to let air pass without any issues. However, if your airway muscles are too relaxed, they can touch each other and block airflow. This causes the muscle tissue to vibrate as you breathe, producing that familiar snoring sound.
Being overweight can make snoring worse. Extra body fat puts pressure on your airways, aggravating the snoring problem. However, losing weight can significantly help reduce or even eliminate snoring. One condition closely tied with snoring is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which should not be ignored. Snoring due to OSA can worsen other health issues linked to obesity.
Interestingly, there are many exercises you can do to help stop snoring. Focusing on strengthening the neck muscles is particularly effective. Additionally, any exercise that helps you lose weight around your midsection can be beneficial. Snoring exercises don’t have to be physically demanding either.
There are vocal and throat exercises designed to tighten your throat muscles. Playing musical instruments like the flute, trombone, or tuba can also help. You don’t need to be a great singer to benefit from vocal warm-ups, which can tone the muscles that cause snoring.
If you’re looking for a quick fix, stop-snoring mouthpieces can provide temporary relief. However, regular exercise offers a more permanent solution.
Regardless of whether you snore, losing excess weight is essential for your overall health. Starting an exercise routine will boost your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. And yes, it will help you stop snoring. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Snoring is a common problem, but it is not something you should ignore. Your body and mind will thank you once you tackle the issue.