Stop My Snores

Anyone that suspects they have the condition should familiarize themselves with the symptoms of sleep apnea. This condition is not something that is just annoying but is dangerous and can also be downright deadly. Some have unfortunately died from the cessation of breathing during the night, so of course realizing if you have this condition and getting it treated properly is vitally important. So let’s look at some common symptoms of sleep apnea and remember, you might not be able to recognize these symptoms in yourself but may need to ask your bedmate or another family member if they notice them when you sleep.

Your breathing and the sounds you make during sleep are common symptoms of sleep apnea. When your body stops breathing temporarily during the night of course it works very hard to get itself breathing again and this might mean sounds like choking, gasping, snorting, or wheezing. Many people think that these sounds are just common or harmless snoring but these noises, especially when loud or severe, are common symptoms of sleep apnea. The body gasps when it starts breathing after being denied oxygen or someone wheezes when that oxygen gets cut off. These are not good sounds for anyone and should be taken very seriously.

Sleep apnea interferes with a person’s sleep whether they’re aware of it or not. The way you feel during the day can also be common symptoms of sleep apnea. You might think you’ve gotten a good night’s sleep but if you’re fatigued when you wake up, have headaches throughout the day, get daytime sleepiness, or just generally don’t feel rested all of these can be symptoms of sleep apnea. It’s important that a person get several hours of uninterrupted sleep in order to be really refreshed and recharged but sleep apnea of course interferes with consistent rest. Again, a person isn’t typically aware of the fact that he or she has sleep apnea and is waking up during the night so these daytime symptoms should be considered.

Any and all of these symptoms of sleep apnea should be taken seriously. A doctor can refer you to a sleep clinic, but most cases of sleep apnea are caused by excess body weight. If you’re several pounds overweight you might want to consider doing what you can to lose this weight and see if perhaps these symptoms of sleep apnea don’t clear up.

Posted August 28, 2008 Comments(0)

If snoring really aggravates your sleeping partner then it may be time for you to consider  surgery to prevent snoring. Surgery for some people is a radical method to resolve their snoring dilemma but for a number of people it is the only way to stop. There are quite a few types of surgeries that can be performed but not all of them have the same success and every surgery has its own pros and cons.

If you find yourself making chainsaw noises at night then schedule an appointment with your doctor to check out your snoring problem especially if you have tried all the snoring prevention device and over the counter remedy to no effect.

Widening Airways

Surgery to prevent snoring works to widen the airways and relieve your breathing. One procedure that is used to prevent your snoring is Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. It’s quite a mouthful and it certainly does a lot. When you go under the knife you will be removing your tonsils, part of the soft palate and the uvula.

Surgery to prevent snoring using this procedure appears to be temporary. Only about half of patients who have undergone treatment using this surgical procedure report any improvement after two years. Using this procedure to prevent snoring appears to be temporary. Others find that inside two years they have the same old problems once more with snoring.

Laser Procedures

There is a surgery to prevent snoring that uses lasers if you find that the cost of the above procedure seems to be too much for you then. . You will shorten your uvula with this procedure. Lasers are also used to vaporize parts of your soft palate with this surgical procedure.

This procedure uses only local anesthetic compared to the general anesthetic used in the above procedure

This is a recommended procedure if you have already had your tonsils removed. However you should be warned that it is not completely effective. Although their snoring was much better than before, many people who have undergone the procedure reported that their sleeping partners were still not happy with their snoring.

Palate Stiffening

Surgery to prevent snoring that involves stiffening the palate of the mouth is also performed. It is considered quite effective for many people, with a high rate of people finding relief in the long term. Though in the short term more than 90% of people are able to cure their snoring problems using this procedure. If you think that you could benefit from surgery to prevent snoring then you should talk to your doctor about having this procedure done. Although not completely effective it may help to reduce your snoring problems.

Posted August 27, 2008 Comments(0)

Have you ever had a look at some of the anti snore devices that are available on the market and wondered how those strange products came to be invented?  They were by no means deliberately intended as anti snore devices.Some people have been helped by strange products such as nasal strips whichare sold for decongestion.  But there are some which you know without a shadow of a doubt that they were created by a non- snorer who was required to live years in the same room as a snorer. 

The Snore Ball 

Many snorers are capable of stopping their snoring once they have rolled over on their sides.  But once on their side and they continue to snore, then they probably have sleep apnea and require a doctor’s help.  So, these are somewhat unkind anti snore devices created to forbid even the soundest sleeper from rolling over onto their backs.  Perhaps the inventers were trying to impose just a bit of their unhappiness onto the snorers of the world. 

One such anti snoring product is known as the Snore Ball.  It came out in the early twentieth century.  It is a hard little ball that is strapped to the small of your back.  When you roll over onto your back, you immediately regret that you did and have no choice but roll over onto your side.  Some stick to your pajamas while others come with their own straps. 

The Sandler Pillow 

Along a similar vein, the Sandler Pillow also makes it next to impossible for a sleeper to snore on his or her back.  The pillow is named after inventor Peter Sandler (no known relation to popular comedian Adam Sandler).  It is a tiny, long pillow too thin for the whole head. 

Shock Therapy 

The most drastic and downright dangerous of anti snore devices has to be the Snore Stopper.  This is an anti snoring bracelet, which can be worn around the wrist.  When you start to snore, it gives you a jolt of electricity, which wakes you up.  The manufacturers claim that the sensation you feel from the Snore Stopper is no more painful than a “small pinch.”  You can’t help but wonder how many chronic snorers receive this as a wedding anniversary present.  (”Oh, honey, you REALLY shouldn’t have.”) 

What’s even better is that there is also a Snore Stopper that is specifically for the tongue.  It shocks the tongue whenever it presses against the back of the mouth. Bon appetit.

Posted August 26, 2008 Comments(0)

Snoring is a very common problem, especially in adult men.  Snoring is the blockage of airflow when you are sleeping, and the loud sound of snoring is nothing more than the palate and the throat rubbing against one another in an effort to gain air.  Snoring is a relatively harmless problem, but it is a problem none the less.

There are a few simple steps that can be taken in order to cure snoring without having to head to the doctor’s office.  In some cases these steps may not be successful as your snoring problem could be the result of a more serious problem such as enlarged adenoids or tonsils, in which case you should consult a doctor.  Check out some of these preventative measures that are explained below.

1.    Sleeping on your back:  Sleeping on your back can be a big cause of snoring.  In this case you will want to make an effort to move your sleep position to sleeping on your side.  Although it is hard to control exactly how you sleep, there is a trick that will greatly help you to sleep on your side.  If you will take a tennis ball and put it in a sock and then put it in the back of your pants (around the small of your back) you will roll over on your back only to quickly roll back onto your side.

2.    Keeping a close watch on the substances that you intake: Things like smoking and drinking in excess can definitely lead to snoring.  It is recommended that you do not drink at least four hours before going to sleep as alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and constricts the air flow.  Also, antihistamines and sleeping pills will have the same affect as alcohol thus making it hard for airflow.

3.    Watch your weight: If you are overweight or are in the beginning stages of gaining some extra pounds, make an effort to shed those pounds.  When you gain weight or are already obese, fat will store up around your neck and will cause the throat to become constricted.  This constriction will greatly reduce the amount of air that you take in, thus causing you to snore.  If you are overweight make an effort to lose weight by exercising on a daily basis and by eating a healthy and balanced diet.  By taking this step you will greatly increase the chances to cure snoring.

4.    Try over the counter remedies: There are many medicine and herbal remedies that can be used to help in snoring.  There are different medicines, creams, and even devices like nasal strips that will cure snoring in a major way.  Before purchasing any of these herbal or synthetic remedies be smart and read up about them.  Check online and print consumer articles that help in determining which remedy is right for you.  Know that all humans are designed differently so you may have to try a few out before finding one that works for you.

Although snoring is a common problem, it is a problem that should not be taken with a grain of salt.  Often times snoring can be a product of sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing for short periods of time when you are sleeping (usually around 10 to 12 seconds).  If these suggestions seem not to work for you, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor to make sure that you do not suffer from sleep apnea.  Take these preventative steps and sleep better by using these cures for snoring.

Posted August 25, 2008 Comments(0)

While I established this blog to discuss the treatments and products available to help you stop snoring, I would be remiss if I failed to discuss a very serious possibility. Your snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea! I encourage you to get your doctor involved early to determine if you suffer from sleep apnea. Failure to diagnose and treat sleep apnea can result in serious consequences, including early death!

Sleep Apnea - What is it?

Apnea comes from the Greek, and literally means “without breath”. A person with Sleep Apnea will literally be woken up to resume breathing. This can occur hundreds of times in one night, so obviously a restful sleep is impossible. There are three types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused when the airway is blocked, typically by the soft tissues at the rear of the throat
• Central Sleep Apnea occurs when the brain fails to send a signal to the muscles to breathe
• Mixed Sleep Apnea is simply a combination of the first two

So, What Are the Risks?

If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can cause cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure. Other common affects include head aches, impotency, weight gain, and memory losses.

A recent study has linked sleep apnea to an increased risk of death. This study, supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), concluded that adults suffering from sleep apnea were two to three times more likely to die in the 13 year period than people who did not suffer from it. Left untreated, this risk rose to four times greater from any cause, and five times greater from cardiovascular problems.

So, the risks are there, and considerable!

How Do I Know If I suffer from Sleep Apnea?

If you can answer yes to any of the following conditions, sleep apnea could be the reason. I urge you to consult with your doctor and tell him which of the following apply to you:

• Are you a loud, frequent snorer?
• Has anyone noticed that you gasp for air or stop breathing while you are asleep?
• Do you often wake up tired, or with a headache?
• Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving?
• Do you have problems with concentration or memory?
• Are you often fatiqued during normal waking hours?

OK, What Happens Next?

Most likely, your doctor will refer you to a specialist for a sleep study, where you will be monitored overnight to determine if sleep apnea is indeed a problem with you. If it is, there are several treatment options that the specialist and your doctor will discuss with you, and I will share in a future post here.

Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition, so don’t ignore it. However, once diagnosed, it can be treated, and this eventually will result in a much more relaxing and rejuvinating rest.

Until next time…sleep well!

Posted August 25, 2008 Comments(0)

Many families where one of the two partners snores have resorted to separate bedrooms to allow the non-snoring partner some rest. Depending on the cause of snoring, there may be a better alternative. This post will give a quick overview of what is currently available. Some of the anti-snoring products will get a more thorough review in future posts.

There is a common reason why people snore – because their air passages are partially blocked. To determine which product might be right for you or your significant other, You need to understand why these air passages are becoming blocked. Also, be aware that anti-smoking products are designed for the chronic snorer, not the only on occasion snorer. If a person snores when he gets a cold, the snoring will stop when the cold is gone, so you will just have to bear it for that short time ;).

Blockage of the air passages, for a lot of people, either their tongue curls back when they sleep, or their lower jaw drops to their chest, making the airways press together. There is a very good chance that people with this condition can be helped by stop snoring products that help keep the tongue, jaw and soft palate in the correct position. If the blockage tends to be more in the nasal passageway, then there are products to help with that too.

Nasal Dilation

If a snorer suffers from frequent allergies or from nasal congestion, opening the nasal passageway may stop the snoring. There are three types of products to assist in this:

1. Nasal Strips - It appears that Breathe Right® has cornered the market on this product now. Nasal strips consist of one or more bands of plastic embedded in an adhesive strip. When adhered to the outside of the nose, in the position described on the package, the bands attempt to straighten out, lifting the sides of the nose and widening the nasal valve area.

2. Nasal Support Devices - Unlike the Nasal Strips, these products are designed to work from inside the nostrils, keeping the nasal airway clear. They can come in the shape of clips or cones, depending on the product. Some popular brands include Breathe with EEZ, an insert, Breathe EZ , a nose clip, and Snore Free, a nose ring with two rare earth magnets.

3. Nose Sprays and Drops - These products were designed to reduce your nasal secretions or to reduce swelling, much like over the counter allergy medicines. One such product is NasalCare®.

Mouthpiece anti-snoring devices

Note that in the US, most intra-oral anti-snoring devices (such as mouthpieces) require a prescription, and are therefore much more expensive than over the counter products might be. Some manufacturers of mouthpieces now market in the US as an athletic mouthpiece to get around this rule. Others allow you to purchase the device from overseas, effectively bypassing this FDA ruling.

Mouthpiece devices can serve three purposes. Some devices actually control a combination of these three methods to open the air passageway.

• They can help control your breathing passages by holding your lower jaw forward (mandibular advancement)
• some anti-snoring mouthpieces are designed to raise the soft palate
• Snoring mouthpieces may also prevent the tongue from falling too far down the throat.

Other Anti-snoring Products

Sleep pillows, collars, and mattresses have been designed to place your body in the optimum position to stop snoring. Most people snore loudest when they are sleeping on their backs, or their head position otherwise restricts the airway passages. Before trying this, you may also consider sleeping without a pillow at all, since this will also serve to open some airways.

Snore balls have been around since at least the American Civil War, when some troops had cannon balls sewed into the backs of their uniforms to make it uncomfortable to sleep on their back.

Sometimes throat sprays can be effective in controlling constriction in the throat, thereby reducing snoring.

As you can see, there are a lot of different types of anti-snoring solutions available. They all have proven effective for at least some cases of snoring. If one type of device does not work for you, try another, until you have found the solution that has both you and your spouse sleeping better.

Posted August 23, 2008 Comments(0)