Snoring in children – not only adults are affected

Studies show that about every 10th child snores. There can be several reasons for this. It is often because enlarged tonsils (tonsils) or enlarged throat tonsils (polyps) block the airways. If this is the case, surgery can help. This step should of course only be considered if the snoring affects the health of children.

However, an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), i.e. an anatomical narrowing of the upper respiratory tract in conjunction with a reduced muscle tone, can be behind the supposedly harmless snoring in children. This also leads to demonstrable breathing interruptions and, if left untreated, can lead to neurocognitive deficits.

If you hear your children snoring, as a parent it is relatively easy to analyze snoring. All you need is a snoring app that you can download to your smartphone. These record and evaluate any noises at night. Based on the data, snoring in children can then be assessed well, or there are also applications that directly assess snoring behavior and a Give a warning if breathing interruptions occur at night. If this is the case, it is advisable to see a specialist.

About 30% of all adults in Germany snore, especially in old age, the risk increases. As with children, snoring is caused by narrowing of the airways. This can have various causes, e.g. a stuffy nose, obesity, alcohol consumption etc.

The older you get, the more likely you are to gain weight. So make sure to lead an active and balanced lifestyle as you get older. Decades of smoking and alcohol consumption, but also taking medication can promote snoring. All of these factors cause the muscles and tissues in the throat to lose tension and cause snoring.

Of course, increased snoring does not necessarily have to be because you are getting older. It is common for adults to experience this through medical conditions and habits that have been maintained for years

There are many things that can help against snoring. For example, changing your lifestyle or using a humidifier can help. There are both various natural home remedies and tips that can help against snoring.

In some cases, however, there is a deeper problem behind snoring, in which case you should talk to your doctor about possible types of treatment.

Anti-snoring pillow

Back sleepers are more likely to snore than stomach or side sleepers, as this can cause the tongue to fall back or the side walls of the throat to collapse.

An anti-snoring pillow helps to change your sleeping position and thus move the body to a side sleep. This prevents sleeping with your mouth open, which in turn can prevent snoring.

Anti-snoring mouthpieces

There are various products here, e.g. Tongue stabilizers, chin straps or snoring splints. The goal here is to keep the lower jaw and tongue in a fixed position.

Probably the most effective anti-snoring product here is the snoring device with an effectiveness of 90% for all snores. It prevents the airways from narrowing due to sagging of the tongue or lower jaw and therefore there is no snoring.

nose spreader

Snoring can also occur if the airways are blocked due to sinus problems. Nose strips or nasal spreaders can help here, as they keep your airways as open as possible.

If your nose is blocked by allergies or a cold, a nasal spray from the pharmacy can help.

humidifier

Humidifiers can help those who have breathing problems at night. This can also promote health for infants and children.

Snoring is sometimes promoted by drying out of the airways and this can one with Counteract humidifiers.

CPAP therapy

If it turns out that there is sleep apnea behind your snoring, put the most effective one therapy CPAP therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Here, a nose / mouth mask is worn while sleeping, which is connected by a tube to a small device that creates a slight air pressure. This keeps the airways open and prevents snoring.