by admin on January 19, 2010
You are not alone if you are frequently awakened by midnight grunts. So many fall victim to snores, regardless if they are the snorer or the bed partner.
Snoring is the condition simply associated with noise created during sleep. There are various conditions that may be considered as its cause but the bottom line is- it is all due to any blockages directly affecting the throat, mouth and nose.
Snoring may be due to the following conditions:
Excess mass in the throat
This may be caused by extra long soft palate or uvula and excess tissues due to bulky necks. Because the throat is limited in space, it is often not ideal if there would be extra muscles that would be dangling in it. Overweight people often snore since their necks are a bit stuffier than ordinary-built people. Some children, on the other hand, snore when they have inflamed adenoids or large tonsils.
Poor muscle tone of the throat and the tongue
Muscles during sleep are less tense thus those muscles found in the air passages are likely to be encouraged to collapse or collide with each other. This collision will then cause vibrations that we call snores. Because of poor muscle tone, the tongue is allowed to fall back to the throat. This then is known to cause blockages since the tongue can possibly obstruct the passage of air. Poor muscle tone may also be induced through taking alcohol or any substance that causes relaxation before sleep.
To resolve snoring, one either has to find relief from these causes or permanently erase the main source of the condition. There are various methods of treating the causes of snoring through using anti snoring products. From nasal strips to adjustable beds, you are sure to find one that will suit your preferences and convenience.
Be warned though that some products are known to induce no relief for the snorer. However, don’t jump to conclusions that such don’t actually work. Often, it may be because the products are not properly used or they simply don’t fit as remedies for a specific type of snoring.
Nasal strips for example should only be used by those people who, for the most parts, is affected by snores rooting from problems in the nasal passages. These nasal strips then are not suited for snorers whose primary problem comes from the blockages found in the mouth.
While most patients are familiar with stop snoring sprays, not all people report that these actually induce relief. Often, people comment of its credibility. This is especially true for those types who claim of “softening throat tissues”. It is good to remember that snoring is not caused by either soft or hardened tissues but of those that block the air passages.
Another common product for snoring are the stop snoring pillows. These are not your-ordinary-pillows since they are constructed specifically for people who have the need to lie on their sideward sleeping position. Lying flat on the back while sleeping can effectively narrow the passages of air. Add the fact that the jaw is often forced to drop to give room for the tongue, thus adding up to the pile of problems caused by blockages.
Before buying any products to treat snoring, it is best to educate yourself well so you can get the best of the benefits.
by admin on January 19, 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 some devices to stop snoring 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, provides 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 – A 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 devices to stop snoring 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
by admin on January 13, 2010
Snoring is known to be the end result of the vibration happening in the upper airway which includes parts such as the throat, mouth and the nose. Due to blockages, turbulence is caused during respiration. While we breathe virtually the whole day, we only snore at night because our muscle tone is very much reduced at sleeping which encourages the collapse of these tissues. Plus, the relaxed muscles are incapable of preventing themselves from collision.
Snoring can basically originate anywhere from the nose down to the vocal chords. Recently, researchers found out that the tongue plays certain roles in causing and aggravating one’s snores.
Snoring is involuntary, so there’s no use of trying to control it at will. It cant also be cured using simple measures. However, it can be controlled by means of various devices and techniques.
However when snoring becomes too difficult for a commonly applied method to handle, it could be the right idea to check on surgical methods to deal with it. There are various surgical procedures to correct this sleeping problem. But not all may be used in all cases.
Sometimes, thorough evaluation of the physical and physiological factors must be rendered before an otolaryngologist would come up with the most effective measures. Otolaryngologists are the specialists on problems directly related with the throat, mouth and the nose.
Another known treatment for snoring is the Tongue Suspension Procedure or Repose. This works by inserting a small screw under the tongue into the jaw. This way, the tongue will be prevented from falling back during sleep. While many report of its effectivity in controlling the cause of snores, most physicians agrees that this is an irreversible option so careful thinking is evaluation.
For snorers whose main cause of snoring is the nose, nasal surgery is most likely to find the solution. While it is considered, in general, as a cosmetic type of surgery too few can deny that it actually works for problematic snoring.
This method is also used for patients who are suffering from deviated nasal septum. This doesn’t only help the snorer during his sleep but can also add comfort in breathing during the day.
The LAUP or Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty is the advanced modification of the traditional treatment called Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP. This procedure works by cutting the uvula (which is the dangling part that most often than not causes the obstruction of the air passage) that is located at the rear part of the roof of the mouth. This procedure works best when the persistent problem lies on the uvula.
Radio Frequency Tissue Ablation, also known as Samnoplasty, is a relatively new technique approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This also basically removes parts of the uvula.
While there is not much data published in relation with Coblation-Channeling, we are for certain that this method employs the principle of removing any tissue that obstructs the air passage by means of radio frequency. On some cases, tissues are fully removed when the need arises.
Surgery as treatment for snoring must be taken as the last resort when everything else you’ve tried failed. Before diving into an option, be sure that you are completely evaluated of the actual causes of your condition. Ensure yourself also that you have the best doctor in your spectrum of choices.
by admin on January 10, 2010
Knowing what causes snoring can greatly help you both to find relief if you are already suffering from its effects or to find ways of preventing yourself from becoming a poor victim.
Though not regularly the cause of aggravated problems (except for social embarrassment and potential risks of discontented relationship), it is still best if you are not a sufferer yourself.
Many fall victim in this noisy nighttime dilemma. While some are not aware that they have the condition, many are known to seek ways to get around the troubles that it causes.
Like most other conditions, snoring can be prevented. If you are close to becoming a snorer yourself or if you know one who shows initial signs of developing this condition, you can find good use in the advises that we have in this article. Please read on.
Snoring occurs when the collapsible part of the throat meets. Coupled with the passage of air into the throat, these dangling parts are likely to produce vibrations that create the noisy sounds. Why this condition occurs at night is not a mystery.
While it is true that we breathe 24 hours a day, we only snore when our body is totally relaxed. Thus, it is often advised that snorers maintain a tensed sleeping position until the body gets used to this state.
If you do not like the idea, however, you can prevent snoring through practicing a sideward sleeping position to widen the passage through which air may run through. This passage is congested when we sleep on our backs since our heads are forced to fall back. Additionally, our lower jaw is encouraged to open, therefore creating a space wherein the tongue can droop back. When this occurs, the normal air passage will be obstructed by these components.
We all know that when a passage narrows, the pressure that regularly runs through it will increase. This principle occurs in the throat which explains why there are people who snore and there are those who don’t, and why snores come in different intensity and sounds.
Obesity is known to induce snoring. This is due to the fact that heavier people are more likely to have extra (and often unnecessary tissues). The neck of an overweight person is known to have more muscles and adipose tissues that hamper the normal delivery of breathing.
Thus, to prevent the possibility of producing nighttime respiratory vibration, one is advised to refrain from gaining too much weight. Not only would you escape from major health threats such as general unhealthiness of the body or coronary diseases, you can also save yourself from distracting your bed partner’s sleep and your own.
Some people practice mouth breathing. Add to the fact that this is generally not a healthy practice, mouth breathing can also raise one’s susceptibility towards snoring. It may seem awkward to switch back to nasal breathing initially though, but in time you would learn to breathe naturally using your nose while sleeping. In the end, you would be thankful that you took time and learned patience in eliminating this habit.
If you would notice, most advises in preventing snoring concern lifestyle-changing practices. This is because snoring, as a whole, don’t necessarily have to root from biological causes while we may find sufferers who are actually bothered by nasal deformities or extra large adenoids and tonsils.