Sound Sleep Guide

Archive for June, 2008

You could be one of the many millions of people on the lookout for an effective way to stop snoring. This is not something that is unusual as most households will have at least one member that snores. This often disturbs the family members and gives rise to a need to stop snoring before it gets out of hand.

Use Special Pillows

Most often, your snoring problem emanates from the fact that you may be sleeping on your back which causes the throat as well as tongue muscles to relax in the direction of the throat, subsequently causing a person to snore. You will unravel many different solutions on how to stop snoring and among them is the use of special pillows that will be shaped in a manner that promotes relaxed and quiet sleep.

Throat Muscle Exercise

Another possible alternative that you might want to consider in your quest to know how to stop snoring is to understand the reasons behind snoring and then act in a manner that eliminates these causes. For example, you could try and increase the strength in the throat as well as tongue by performing certain exercises that will prevent the tongue from falling back towards the throat.

If you are at a loss about how to stop snoring the repercussions in your life could be quite enormous, and you may also be affected in terms of the quality of your health. Often, a snoring problem that is left untreated can become something worse such as a person developing sleep apnea which can be a threat to his or her life. Other negative consequences even include the end of a marriage, or otherwise seeing disharmony in a relationship that is threatened by as simple an ailment as snoring.

There is really no excuse for not knowing how to stop snoring as there is plenty of information available. It could be as simple as skipping the glass of milk you have before bed or trying a few different sleeping positions.

Medical Intervention

It is essential that you understand how to stop snoring by experimenting with simple solutions first. If they fail, consult a doctor in case there might be a latent medical condition that you are unaware of. By being proactive and finding out just what it takes to stop snoring, you will be nipping this bothersome habit in the bud and it will make you a happier and healthier person.

If you’ve got a snoring problem the question might have crossed your mind as to whether your kids could inherit it. Well, unfortunately the answer to that question is yes. Research has shown that children with at least one parent with a snoring condition are three time as likely to snore themselves.

Snoring may be a sign of another problem known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA. OSA can cause your breathing to stop during sleep because the air passages are being blocked.

Snoring is a sign of difficulty breathing, but it is breathing at least. OSA can cause the sufferer to stop breathing for periods of over 10 seconds while sleeping, which then causes them to wake up gasping and choking for air.

And the problem isn’t only an issue at night. OSA can lead to headaches and sore throats in the morning, as well as a lack of concentration and general irritability due to lack of sleep.

If left untreated, OSA can lead to increased blood pressure, lower oxygen levels in the blood and an increased chance of heart attack and stroke.

In one recent study, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital medical center studied 681 children. The research determined that African-American children were roughly three times more likely to develop a snoring problem than any other ethnicity.

And it was also found that kids who tested positively for Atopy (a sign of asthma and allergies) were twice as likely to develop a snoring problem.

This study helped the doctors to determine which children were more at risk of a snoring condition and other sleep disorders, giving them the chance to work closely with the parents to minimize the long-term effects.

There are cases where simple remedies for snoring just aren’t going to solve the issue. In some cases the only way to stop snoring is through surgery.

There are several types of surgical procedures to stop snoring. The one that’s best for you will depend on your body and the contributing factors to your snoring problem.

The type of surgeon you would consult to find out what your best option is would be a otolaryngologist. They specialize in the ears, nose and throat. Unfortunately, many insurance companies consider snoring surgery a cosmetic procedure and don’t cover the costs.

LAUP

Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is one of the more common types of surgery for dealing with snoring. In a LAUP procedure, the uvula (the dangling tissue at the back of your mouth) is cut away with a laser. This has the effect of reducing its contact with your throat.

If your snoring is caused by the uvula partially blocking your airway, this surgery can make a difference.

Somnoplasty

Another type of surgery commonly used to help with snoring problems is radio frequency tissue ablation, or RFTA. This is done under the trade name “Somnoplasty” and was only recently approved by the FDA.

RFTA is another way of reducing the size of the uvula, minimizing its contact with the throat. With RFTA, multiple sessions may be necessary before you see results. Because it is so new, there is not a lot of data published on it yet.

Another recent procedure is know as Coblation-Channeling, a method using radio frequency to reduce the tissue in the airway itself. This procedure is even newer than RFTA however, so again there is not a lot of data published on it yet.

Repose

Yet another recent procedure is called tongue suspension, going under the trade name Repose. This type of surgery keeps your tongue from falling back and blocking the airway during sleep.

A small screw is inserted into the lower jaw bone and stitches are placed below the tongue. This helps to keep the tongue in place at night.

The final procedure we’ll discuss is nasal deviation surgery. Blockages in your nose or a deviated septum can both restrict your breathing, leading to snoring. This type of surgery helps to remove those blockages and free up your airflow.

An interesting side effect of this surgery is that it also helps to improve your breathing during the day. For that reason, it is often covered by medical insurance policies.

As with any type of serious treatment, you should always consult with a medical professional before considering any surgery. Talk to your doctor about your snoring to get their informed opinion of what treatment would be best suited for your situation.