The New Way To Sleep

Snoring

Snoring is the most common sleep problem. An estimated 30-50% of the U.S. population snores at some time or another. If you snore, you are not alone. (Or, on the other hand, perhaps you are alone ... if your sleeping partner has abandoned you to sleep in a quieter place!)

Snoring noise occurs because of a vibration of air as it passes over structures in the throat and mouth – typically the soft palate vibrates with the vocal chords. The narrower the airway becomes, the louder the snoring becomes.

Loud snoring can totally disrupt the sleep quality of both the snorer and his or her sleeping partner. It results in daytime sleepiness and other symptoms associated with poor sleep. It has wrecked many marriages.

Causes of snoring can include:

Sleeping with neck and head in poor position: Sleeping with the neck and head in bent or crooked position (poor pillow choice) aggravates snoring. If you sleep with your head raised by your pillow too much, this will happen. Like a bend or crink in a garden hose, it further restricts the flow of air in what is already a narrow airway passage. This is a key contributor or aggravator of snoring. This cause can be easily corrected, however, with the clinically tested and proven design of NightCare's "Thank You for Not Snoring" pillow. It's highly comfortable, has been proven highly effective, and was developed specifically for snorers.

Decreased muscle tone: Muscle tone decreases as we age, allowing the sides of the throat to close together and the tongue to fall backward into the airway.

Being overweight: Excessive weight often contributes to snoring, since excess fat in the neck area reduces the width of the air passage.

Congestion: Your nasal passage becomes inflamed as a response to a cold or allergies. It narrows the air passage and forces you to inhale harder to get the proper amount of air. Congestion can also occur when you breathe excessively dry air at night; the mucus in your nose and throat thickens, limiting airflow.

Anatomical abnormalities: Any physical abnormalities in your nasal passages, mouth or throat can also lead to snoring. An examination by a doctor can indicate if you have any.

There are numerous treatments for snoring that do not entail surgery:

Proper pillow: In all cases, you can sleep with a pillow with a design proven in clinical testing to eliminate or alleviate snoring by comfortably positioning the head and neck to open the airway more. It's the NightCare "Thank You for Not Snoring" Pillow. This is perhaps the easiest and most comfortable solution. Sleep with this comfortable pillow and alleviate your snoring!

Lifestyle changes: If you're significantly overweight, losing weight often eliminates snoring, since it reduces the amount of fatty tissue in the neck and throat. Quitting smoking, foregoing alcohol in the evening, and avoiding sleeping pills and muscle relaxants may also help.

Natural remedies for Congestion: A humidifier placed on your nightstand may help. Humidifiers tend to make a difference if you live in a hot, dry desert climate, or a cold climate (where the indoor air is artificially dry because the heating system produces "dry heat". Heavy air conditioner use also takes moisture from the air, so you may want to consider reducing your air conditioner's use at night.

Medications for Congestion: Snoring caused by congestion may be relieved by prescription nasal sprays prescribed by your doctor. Avoid over-the-counter spray decongestants; their effect diminishes after a few days, excessive use can damage the lining of the nose, and it's easy to become dependent on them.

Dental devices and other store products: There are more than forty dental devices currently on the market, which fall into two general categories: Mandibular (lower jaw) advancing devices or tongue-retaining devices. Dental devices, which are available from dentists, are often effective when worn every night. However, some people find them uncomfortable and discontinue use. Other store products include nasal strips or mechanical dilators. While these devices may help, they, too, can be uncomfortable, and snoring originating in the mouth and throat won't benefit from these.

Consequences of Snoring:

Snoring causes substantial loss of sleep for both the person snoring and his or her sleeping partner. Combined with tossing and turning, the snoring noise often keeps both people from sleeping soundly. It's been known to ruin many marital relations! Sleep deprivation has significant consequences: Excessive sleepiness, irritability, and lack of productivity during the day, as well negative repercussions to general health.

Heavy snoring is an indicator of the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) – where the airway completely closes, stopping breathing until the person wakes up. The health and sleep consequences of this are significant -- reasons to talk to your doctor about heavy snoring. Learn about sleep apnea, below.