The Link Between Snoring and Smoking

Tip! Avoid alcohol many hours before going to bed. Snoring is more likely when muscle relaxation occurs.

There are no ifs ands or buts about it, smoking is bad for our health. Smoking can cause cancer and many other life-threatening conditions, but did you know that smoking can cause snoring as well?

Snoring may not seem like a big deal to many, but snoring can be very annoying for not only the snorer but their partner as well. Snoring can also lead to serious conditions such as sleep apnea. And it’s not only the smokers that are affected. Studies have shown that people who are frequently subjected to second hand smoke are more likely to snore as well.

Smoking causes snoring because of irritation to the respiratory system. The mucus membranes of the nose and throat are most affected by this smoke and they can become inflamed and swollen. This in turn causes an obstruction in the airway which is what causes a person to snore. Some research has shown that it is possible the cigarette smoke also damages nerves in the airway which can exacerbate the problem.

Tip! Avoid harmful drugs, alcohol or sleeping pills. Drug-induced sleep is more likely to loosen up your throat muscles, causing them to fall back into the throat and result in snoring.

As if you needed another reason to give up smoking, but snoring is another one to add to the long list of negative outcomes of smoking. However, many people do find it very hard to give up smoking. Not only does one become addicted physically to the nicotine in cigarettes, but they become habitually addicted to the smoking as well. Quitting smoking often takes a lifestyle change to truly kick the habit.

The question now remains whether or not the damage is done by smoking or can the body repair itself. Studies have shown that snoring will be significantly reduced if not eliminated after a person stops smoking. The body is good at repairing itself, although it may take some time.

Tip! If you’re a smoker, kick the habit. Cigarette smoking can disturb your sleep and can increase the likelihood of snoring.

There are many reasons to quit smoking: for your own health and of course the health of those around you. Snoring is just one more reason to kick this deadly habit.

Thomas Wilson writes about the causes of snoring and other related topics for the Snoring Solutions website. For more helpful information and to sign up for our free newsletter, visit http://www.snoringsolutions.org


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