Nothing disrupts sleep like snoring.

Unfortunately, lack of sleep is not just a minor annoyance. It can result in significant health issues, including high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, increased stress hormones in the body (that can contribute to weight gain), as well as depressed brain function.

That increased stress on the body can also increase your allergic symptoms, which can increase your problems with snoring - and a vicious cycle is set up.

This isn’t just for the non-snoring partner either; these same problems affect the snorer, as the sleep is disrupted many times a night, even if the person does not come to full wakefulness.

Better control of your allergies can significantly improve the issue of snoring. Allergic snoring is the result of inflammation in the nasal passages which can be complicated by post nasal drip.

Taking action before you are exposed to your allergen (whenever possible) is key. Reducing any exposure will help to minimize symptoms - and minimize the need for drug therapies. After all, if the inflammation is controlled, the cause behind allergic snoring is stopped.

Sometimes, the simplest strategies are the best. Non-drug approaches including a bedroom air purifier, nasal “strips” that help to open up passageways, and keeping your bedroom off limits to pets and dust, can really help improve snoring. There are even homeopathic treatments for allergic snoring: Snore Stop (a homeopathic remedy for snoring) now has an allergy version. As a user of Snore Stop, I can report that it does work: I’m assuming the allergy-version will also be a good product.

If you snore and actually stop breathing at night, you could have something much more severe than just snoring: you could have sleep apnea. If your quality of sleep has been suffering for a long time, and your daytime effectiveness is compromised, it could be time to head to the doctor and ask for a sleep study. A sleep study will help you pinpoint what is going on in the night - and help you to solve it.