Archive for the ‘snoring’ Category

Snoring Cure: What are they?

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

People who snore can be funny but when you get to sleep with someone who snores loudly every night, it becomes annoying. That is why, it is important to know the ways to cure snoring.

Here are the following ways and methods to cure snoring:

Breathing exercise ? Snoring happens when there is a blockage happening in the breathing passage, particularly at the throat area. And this blockage might be because of a tensed throat, wrong positioned jaw, or stuffed nose. Take several deep breaths in order to relax the throat and make breathing normal again.

Decongestants ? There are instances wherein the cause of snoring is nasal congestion. Here, the person tends to breathe through his mouth which may trigger snoring. Taking decongestants will free any blockage and relieve the person from snoring.

Anti-allergy medications ? There are some allergies that result to the enlargement of adenoids. Once the allergy is cured, the snoring usually stops.

Exercise and proper diet ? If the person is obese, he probably snores. This is because there is fat concentration on the airways that limits the air to go in and out freely. Also, fat formation on the stomach restricts the diaphragm to perform properly. Thus, snoring occurs. In fact, around 40% of the obese population snores. Taking regular exercise and proper diet can reduce the weigh and stop snoring, not to mention other health risks associated with obesity.

Change of bed position ? There are occasions wherein snoring is the result of wrong sleeping position. Sometimes, sleeping with too many pillows can stretch and narrow the air passage. Use one pillow to avoid it. Also, lying on the back can cause snoring. So, a change in sleeping position can be a good help.

Change of lifestyle ? Smoking and alcohol can contribute to the onset of snoring. Snoring may be a result of other medical conditions caused by these two. So, to maintain a good and healthy life, the person should stop or reduce smoking and alcohol intake, which in turn can cure snoring.

Review medications ? Antihistamines, sleeping pills, and other types of medications can worsen snoring.

Regular sleeping habits ? There are two periods of sleep: the REM sleep where the person experiences frequent dreaming and deep sleep, and the Stage 1 sleep which should only be experienced during falling asleep but can also be experienced several times if the person is sleeping poorly. Both can trigger the development of unstable breathing that can cause snoring. Irregular sleeping can also cause respiratory instability that result to unstable breathing during sleep.

Saltwater nasal droops ? Nasal congestion caused by mucus can disrupt sleep and can cause snoring. To prevent this, saltwater nasal drops can be used to flush out the mucus. There are over the counter saltwater nasal drops available in drugstores. However, you can also make it on your own. Dissolve ΒΌ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of sterilized water. Let the water cool down to body temperature and place it to a nose dropper.

However, if snoring is caused by other serious condition such as sleep apnea and enlargement of adenoids and/or tonsils, some surgical procedures like Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) and radio frequency tissue ablation (RFTA) or Somnoplasty can be applied. It is important therefore to know the exact cause of snoring before taking any action.

Top Anti Snoring Devices You Can Avail

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Hearing a person who snores can be amusing, it can even be funny. But if you are living with someone who snores, a relative or a family member perhaps, then the sound might become very disturbing. If you cannot get a good night sleep and always wake up several times in the middle of the night by a sound that can be as loud as a lawnmower or a jet engine in action, then you should be thinking of anti snoring devices as a solution to the problem.

Here are popular anti snoring devices you can buy for your family member and stop him from disturbing your sleep:

? Anti snoring pillow

One of the reasons why people snore is because they have an improper sleeping position. This causes the air passage to stretch and tighten making it more difficult for air to come in and out. To solve this, there are anti snoring pillows that relax your airways and maintain the right sleeping position to prevent a person from snoring throughout the night.

? Throat spray

One natural remedy to stop snoring is the snoring spray. Formulated with natural ingredients, snoring spray contains essential oils that when sprayed on the throat, provide a lubrication that reduces that amount of vibration, hence effectively reduce snoring. However, it is ironic that when throat spray is used frequently, it can lead to more snoring.

Before using throat spray, the doctor’s evaluation on the patient is necessary to avoid any other complication.

? Nasal dilators

Usually made of stainless steel coil or plastic, nasal dilators help keep the air passage open which cut down the throat’s vibration which leads to snoring. Nasal dilators are used by inserting it into the nostrils.

? Nasal strips

Like nasal dilators, nasal strips are used to open the airways on the nose and keep the right amount of airflow during sleep. Nasal strips are often made of plastic. This is one of the more popular anti snoring devices since it is cheap, safe, and effective. In fact, nasal strips are used by athletes for better airflow and respiratory efficiency while playing.

? Sleep Position Monitor

This device emits a beeping noise to alert the snorer when he shifts to a position where snoring usually occur (sleeping on their back). However, if you are a relative of a snorer and would want his snoring to stop, then this device may become a whole new problem. But, the aim of this device is not to replace the snorer from keeping you a wake in the middle of the night. Instead, it is there to create a brand new sleeping habit.

Once the snorer starts to sleep on his side, the sleep position monitor can be removed.

? Snore ball

Snore ball is placed at the back of the snorer (inside his pajama). When he changes his sleeping position from side to back, the snore ball emits discomfort, a.k.a. pain. In other words, it prevents the snorer from sleeping on his back. It might not be the device a person wants to feel in the middle of the night but some really need it in order to change his sleeping position for good. Some people use golf balls, baseballs or tennis balls as snore balls.

All these anti snoring devices can prevent a person from snoring, however, snoring can be caused by other medical condition that may need medical attention. To be safe, have your relative or family member be checked by a doctor to know exactly what treatment does he need.

Resolve Snoring Through Natural Remedies

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Apart from dreaming and frequent movements during the night, snoring is one of the activities that human body creates even when in deep sleep. It is a dysfunction in the body that is caused by certain mechanisms that seem to collide when the body is at its most relaxed state.

The muscles in the throat may partially close the air passage when they have become too relaxed. This obstruction coupled with the drive of wind that runs through this passage will result to vibrations we commonly know as snores.

Natural remedies for snoring are effective means of finding solutions. However, it must be considered that not all remedies can be very effective for all sorts of snoring causes. Thus, careful evaluation must be done before any assumption is made.

Weight loss and exercise issues

The general population is advised to maintain an ideal weight and body size. This is not simply to restrict us from enjoying the habits that we got so used to. But because this measure can greatly improve our health. One of the many benefits of maintaining an ideal weight is that it makes you less susceptible to risks involved in snoring.

Heavier individuals have heavier body mass. Thus, they have bulkier necks that contain excess muscles often causing obstructions during breathing. The throat can no longer accommodate extra tissues that may cause the blockages for the facilitation of normal breathing.

Improve your general lifestyle

Smokers and frequent drinkers are often more vulnerable to producing snores since the substances that they take encourage various body reactions that are well-suited for snoring.

Cigarettes can possibly modify the tissues of the respiratory tract in a way that the system is stripped off its protection from the harm of the chemicals found in cigars, tobaccos and cigarettes. Some studies say that the esophagus is lined with a specific type of cell that changes into another form once smoke from cigarettes pass through it. This will then induce the abnormal production of mucus that can add up to the obstructions.

Alcohol, on the other hand, can bring about relaxation on the muscles that further aggravate the condition. The muscles of the throat during sleep relax due to lack of control. This then creates the possibility that the muscles will interfere with the normal flow of air in and out of the lungs. Thus, the vibration that results to snores.

Change of sleep posture

The earliest method of reducing snores is by stitching a tennis ball on the pajama tops. This encourages the snorer to sleep on his side even when unconscious since the tennis ball is enough to remind him that sleeping on his back wont do any good. Realigning your body will help decrease the possibility of snoring since the tongue and the jaw will be kept from dropping back that cause blockages on the narrow air passage.

Most people advise of sleeping in a sideward posture to prevent the relaxed muscles to collapse. For snorers who can tolerate sleeping on their stomachs are much less susceptible to the likelihood of snoring since this posture is ideal for reducing the pressure on the airways.

Also, it is often advised that the your bed is elevated to 30 degrees since this height is known to lessen collapse of the tissues in the throat.