Over 20 percent of the American population snores through the night,and that can result in serious health problems. The good news is you (or your partner) may be able to stop snoring easily -- just by turning over and sleeping on the side.
Scientists say there are two types of snorers: those who snore only when they sleep on their backs, and those who do it regardless of their position. After sleep researchers in Israel examined more than 2,000 patients who snored, they found that 54 percent were “positional” snorers, meaning they snored only when on their backs. That’s good news if you’re in this category, because it means that by changing your sleeping position you can avoid the disadvangates of snoring: You lose sleep, possibly disrupt your partner’s sleelp, and you feel tired throughout the day. That can lead to mood and memory problems.
If you have a tendency to snore when face up, then there’s a quick fix to avoid that: place a tennis ball in a shirt pocket you’ve sewn to the mid-back of a tightish pajama top. Ultimately, you’ll feel uncomfortable enough to roll over to your side to sleep better. Will it wake you up? According to sleep experts, snorers using this method stay asleep and end up with a quiet, restful night.
