If you go looking on the internet for cures for snoring, you’ll find all kinds of products advertised. Chin straps, jaw supporters, homeopathic infusions, shaped pillows, medication, nose strips, laser surgery, nose plugs, and god knows what else.  Some of these products work. Others, well, let’s just say the jury’s out and that some people feel like they’re helped by them.

How can you tell one from the other? It’s very easy to look a website for a product, any product, and be impressed with what you see.  There’s an art to making something look good, but that’s an art that a lot of people know these days. How do you tell the people who are the real deal from the shysters?

Here’s a good first hint.

Is the product you’re looking at being touted as a ‘cure’ for snoring?

Yes? then be suspicious.

I guess this might be a confusing answer. Surely that’s what every snoring aid is for, you might think? To cure the problem?

Well, yes and no. The thing is, you see, it’s not possible to eradicate snoring entirely. Can’t be done. As long as air is passing through those soft tubes in our nose, mouth and throat, it can make the soft tissues of the body vibrate, and produce a snoring sound now and then. It’s just a fact of life. I’ll say it again; you cannot cure snoring.

Of course, some people want to say they that.  It’s obvious why- competition. Everyone wants to promise more than their competitors.

We’re not going to pull the wool over your eyes. We’ll try to be honest. So, given that you can’t cure snoring, the good news is that you can reduce it. Stop it from being constant, turn the volume down to acceptable levels, and turns something from a constant problem into an occasional irrelevance.

Now that, we can promise.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

Why There’s No ‘Cure’ For Snoring.

When you snore, it’s hard to realise just how annoying it can be to your partner. Part of you doesn’t want to hear it, and what’s more, you’re asleep when it happens, so you’re literally oblivious.  You’re relying on what your partner says, and no-one wants to be a nag to their loved one. Love is love, after all. So they hold back, and don’t say anything.

How to judge how bad Snoring can really get? How’s about this example, of two people who don’t have such considerations, but who are still sharing a space.

A prison inmate in Mower County, Minnesota, was recently found guilty of assaulting his cellmate over snoring accusations. He was actually responding to the other’s complaints about his own snoring, which had previously caused tensions between the two for the previous five nights, and had been the cause of a heated and prolonged argument on the previous night, culminating in threats of violence if the snoring didn’t stop. Eventually, the snorer couldn’t take his cell-mate’s protests any longer and attacked him.

This wasn’t hot-headed teenagers or twenty-somethings fighting, either- it was a 51 year-old and a 42 year-old. Grown men, coming to blows over an annoying noise keeping someone up at night. Still feel that snoring isn’t a big deal?

Now, in case you’re thinking this is a bit unrealistic, let’s admit here that these were two people who were maybe a little more prone to violence in the first place. Plus, they were perfect strangers, forced to share an enclosed space, which often leads to problems anyway. It isn’t a wholly accurate comparison between these two ill-tempered cell-mates and two people who choose to sleep together.

Still, there’s a kernel of truth here, isn’t there?

Bottom line. If you snore, and you have a partner, don’t drive them nuts with it. Don’t make them suffer in silence try and find a Snoring Cure.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

Ever Wondered How Annoying Snoring Really Is?

Snoring is a health issue, but it’s not really like a cold or a broken bone. It’s not something that just occurs and is there to be dealt with. It creeps up on you, it’s the result of changes over the time. Ask any chronic snorer and they will be vague as to when it began. That’s because snoring is often the result of lifestyle changes, causes which are cumulative.  This means that there’s a lot of things we can control, making little little changes here and there, to address these causes.

Here’s a few more pointers:

Stress: It’s really easy to underestimate the role which stress plays in your health, and the effect that living through a difficult time can have on you. tensions, unless released, are stored in the body, and outside concerns can lead you to ignore your own health and well-being.  Sometimes, it can be hard to see at the time just how much effect stress is having on you. Take time to evaluate that, and to look to reduce your troubles and difficulties in life. It could well be that your troubled sleep is symptomatic of your troubles in life.

Diet: this is often overlooked by people looking to combat snoring,  but it’s wrong of them to do so. Remember the old adage- ‘you are what you eat?’ It’s true. Obesity is a key cause of Sleep Apnea, and excess fat can cause constriction in the breathing passages and lead to snoring. Address your diet, and you’ll find that your general health improves, and with it, your snoring may decrease.

Exercise and physical fitness:  It’s easy now, with the lifestyle we all lead these days, to find time to exercise properly. Obviously, if you are taking the time to stay in shape, it’s a good thing for your health in general, and you may find that as a result of improved muscle tone, your snoring decreases.

Your living and sleeping environment:It’s vital to be comfortable where you sleep. Your bedroom needs to be a clean, well-ventilated place free from external noise. It’s also worth noting that avoiding second-hand cigarette smoke is vital. Also consider some kind of snoring aid like an anti-snoring pillow.

Overall, it’s important to realise that if you snore, and have disturbed sleep, it isn’t just an isolated issue- it is likely to be symptomatic of wider concerns and issues. If you take steps to live a healthier, happier lifestyle, you’ll often find that your snoring will decrease.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

A Few More Thoughts On Lifestyle To Combat Snoring

It’s actually fairly easy to make some of the changes you need to prevent snoring, as long as you have the right attitude. As long as you pay attention to the key points, like watching the food you eat, staying hydrated, getting exercise and sleeping in the right position, then you’ll be able to take control of your condition.

Furthermore, you may be able to prevent snoring by simply losing weight. One of the major medical factors in snoring, and Sleep Apnea, is obesity.  Therefore, if you’re living well, eating good healthy food and taking regular exercise, you’re going to do a lot better at reducing snoring then if you rely solely on a snoring aid. A lot of anti-snoring products are wonderful, but it’s very important to live a good lifestyle.

Too many people don’t admit this to themselves, resorting to the easy way out of their sleeping problems. The only problem with these pills and sleeping tablets, is that whilst they can help you to fall asleep, this is often only a shallow sleep, as opposed to the deeper phases of sleep, REM sleep and deep sleep, which are the stages of sleep where the body is repaired. If snoring is an issue, this can be aggravated by sleeping pills and tranquillisers, as they make the mouth and throat relax.

Other problem factors can be the consumption of alcohol or coffee within four hours of going to sleep- any artificial stimulants, will be an issue. Also, rich or heavy food can overload the stomach and cause further problems. No need to become some kind of monk- it’s just about moderation.  Think about drinking herbal teas in the evening instead of coffee, eating sensibly, and finding ways to get that little bit of exercise in each day.

These are good general tips for living your life, and getting a decent night’s sleep, and as a part of that, you’ll find your snoring problems will be alleviated as a consequence.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

Some More Thoughts About Stopping Snoring.

As more and more of us are coming to realise, Sleep Apnea is a serious problem, causing snoring but also a number of underlying health problems. It’s also recognised as commonplace in obese people, especially men. Sorry to add more ammunition to one side in the war of the sexes, but it’s in the science, I’m afraid!

There is good news, however; recent findings by researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet have suggested that one of the most effective ways of addressing the problem is through weight loss.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, states that the researchers found a fifty percent reduction in the occurrence of Sleep Apnea, and also a reduction in snoring, where a strict regimen of weight-loss was enforced. This wasn’t any light diet, however. On average, each participant lost almost 42 pounds during the study.

This sounds extreme, and is by no means easy, but it’s a lot better than some of the alternatives. When you consider the alternative solution of sleeping with a continuous positive airway pressure machine strapped to their face, one can see why weight loss is a good idea.

What’s more, there’s all kinds of benefits to weight loss- if you’re overweight, you’re far more at risk of a massive variety of different ailments and medical complications. What’s more, the study’s findings suggested that there was almost a 20% cure rate for people who lost significant amounts of weight.

Now, granted, it’s not easy to do that. There’s all kinds of factors involved in obesity. If you’re overweight, the causes can be metabolic, psychological, or to do with a wide variety of lifestyle issues. Now, I’m not claiming to occupy any moral high ground here- your humble writer speaks here as someone who finds melted cheese in all its various culinary manifestations to be the perfect comfort food!

What is true, however, is that to a very real extent the solution to a weight problem is in your own hands. If the cause is behavioural, it’s possible to address the causes of that behaviour. If it’s to do with lifestyle and bad habits, better ones can be created. If we want to change, then we can. We need to notice the problems in the way we live, but the power to make things right is in our hands.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

Weight Loss As A Cure For Snoring And Sleep Apnea

No, not those kinds of implants. Honestly, the filthy minds some people have! This is a sensible blog about sleep and snoring aids, remember, and we’re talking about an interesting new device called the Apex system, which has been developed by British scientists. It’s meant to be able to eradicate snoring in a user. The catch is, you have to get it surgically implanted into your body.

The way it works is though stimulation of the muscles which control the airways open during sleep. In essence, it’s sort of like a pacemaker for the respiratory system, working through the night to control muscles which are otherwise left to go limp, letting the soft tissues of the mouth and throat sag.

It’s currently under trial, but there’s still quite some way to go before we all have one of these nestling under our collar bones, keeping us right as we sleep. As you might imagine, not everyone has been comfortable with the idea of these matchbox-sized devices being implanted within their bodies (I’m certainly not that keen on the idea myself!), and there’s been some reports of test subjects feeling that the device itself feels a little uncomfortable to wear.

Still, the people developing this device are quietly confident it’ll be up and running by, ooh, 2013.

I’m not holding my breath, which is probably just as well.  Sounds just a little bit like re-inventing the wheel if you ask me.

Still, any scientific research in this area is a good thing. I just don’t think the average snorer will be prepared to go to those lengths. Still, this is a world where plastic surgery is all the rage and perfectly sensible people pay huge amounts for grisly-sounding things like skin peels. At least this miracle device would actually do something.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

A Short Article About Implants!

Suffering from sleepiness as a result of sleep apnea? A recent trial conducted in Hattiesburg, USA, has suggested that the medication Armodanifil, also known as Nuvigil, can help to alleviate this problem.

One of the problems with snoring, sleep apnea or disturbed sleep is that not only is it unpleasant for partners, it can also leave you exhausted during the day.  This can make suffering from sleep disorders something of a living hell, and can lead to anxiety and depression.

John Harsh, Phd, of Southern Mississipi, stated that ‘you want to jump in there right away and find the underlying problem or… at least treat the sleepiness so you can improve their functioning, improve their safety, and improve their quality of life.”

This trial seems to have been a success, showing general improvements on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire for the trial group, without much in the way of side-effects.

This is all well and good, and any positive developments in the treatment of sleep disorders are to be encouraged, but it’s my feeling that a lot of people will be a little resistant to simply medicating the results of their bad sleep away. Surely getting good sleep in the first place is more important?

By all means, take medication to alleviate symptoms. It’s always going to be better, however, to get good sleep in the first place. It’s also worth noting that this study was sponsored by the company that makes Armodafinil, and two of the co-authors of the study hold stocks in that company.

The whole issue of corporate-sponsored scientific studies is too big to go into here. One thing that is worth saying, is that what works for you, is what’s best for you. More choice is a good thing, always.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

More Medicines On The Market – Can They Be Trusted?

Sleep apnea is a condition which it has been hard to test for without a large amount of rather cumbersome sensory equipment.  This, in itself, can make for a rather uncomfortable sleeping experience0 I don’t know about you, but I can imagine my sleep might well be a little disturbed if I was going to bed with a bunch of electrodes strapped onto my body!

This understandable increase in patient anxiety, and bodily tension, can lead to some distortion of the results received by the traditional method. It can also discourage some people from participation- they simply don’t want to go through the whole rigmarole of being wired up and tested.

This is why Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center have been attempting to get around this, and ‘unwire’ their patients, thus letting them get better sleep. They have developed a newer test, based around thermal imaging, which appears to be just as effective as the previous method.

The way the new test works is that instead of attaching a series of wires to the patient (a process known as Polysomnography), a thermal camera is put in place, which takes an infrared image of the airflow around the patient’s nose and mouth.  This can then capture the interruptions and changes to the patient’s normal breathing pattern. This is then subjected to computer analysis.

It also seems to be giving researchers a greater depth of information-” in contrast to the traditional one-dimensional methods, this method is multi-dimension” says Ioannis Pavlidis, one of the creators of the study. By this, he means that they can build up a three-dimensional picture of the way air is flowing through a patient’s system. Pavlidis notes that it “makes a lot of difference when it comes to appreciating subtle pathology,” mainly because for the first time researchers are actually getting a three-dimensional picture of the patient’s respiratory system in real time.

Further studies are to follow, but this looks like a very good step forward- anything which encourages people to seek out a diagnosis, and makes obtaining correct information an easier process, is bound to be a good thing. It may also lead to further insights and improvements in customised sleep apnea products. This can only be a good thing!

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

Some Developments In Testing For Sleep Apnea

Salt therapy is also called halotherapy (after the Greek ‘Halos’ or cave-  an allusion the the early practice of treatments being carried out in caves) is widely regarded as an effective treatment for a number of respiratory and breathing problems, such as asthma, pneumonia or bronchitis. It can also help with snoring.

Salt is a natural antiseptic, and in salt therapy an aerosol solution is inhaled by the patients. This then penetrates deep into the respiratory passages, and helps to kill any unwanted bacteria or viruses which may be lurking inside the patient, causing problems like mucus build-up or inflammation.

As we have already said, this is mainly used for allergy conditions such as Asthma, or infections like pneumonia, but it is also highly useful to some snorers- the salt particles can help to clear the nasal passages and reduce the swelling in some of the loose tissues which can be causes of snoring.  It can also help with issues like sinus drainage.

The only problem with this is that it’s fairly rare- as we mentioned earlier, you need a salt-infused environment, which is why it was first practised in caves, deep in the belly of salt mines. These days, it is possible to simulate these environments, but this is expensive- it’s more common to find customised salt caves used for the practice.

If you want to give it a try and you’re outside of Europe, you may find you have quite a trek on your hands- currently the only salt cave in America is in Naples, Florida.

Still, if you have an issue with snoring, and you don’t mind the underground, why not give it a go? If nothing else, it’s an experience you’re not likely to forget. Plus, after that, you can honestly say you’ve gone to the ends of the earth to try to find a cure for your snoring!

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

Salt therapy- a natural treatment for snoring?

An interesting new way to detect people who suffer from Sleep Apnea has been developed by Remote Analysis Ltd. Using of all things an Iphone it is claimed that by analysing the sounds you make while you sleep can predict whether you suffer from or will suffer from sleep apnea.

This Iphone application is inexpensive and very easy to use. You place the Iphone near where you sleep on a night stand for example. Hit the record button and go to sleep as normal. In the morning stop the recording and use the application to analyse the noises you made in the night.

The system shows you a graph showing of when you actually snored during the night and you can listen to the clips and compare them to samples provided of people who actually have sleep apnea.

So what’s so special about this after all it doesn’t stop you snoring does it? Well no it doesn’t but with sleep apnea being a condition that its best to know about (it can cause some serious health problems) a heads up to ensure you go and see your doctor is a good thing.

It can also be used by a snorers partner to prove to the guilty party that they actually do snore loudly at night and that they may want to look at Effective Sleeping Aids to help them stop snoring.

Posted by: Sleep And Snoring Aids

Detect Sleep Apnea – Use An Iphone