Are you or your loved struggling with snoring? Approximately 50% of the entire population snores at some point. Snoring is more prevalent in both women and men, becomes common with age and sometimes runs in families. Any individual can snore, young or old, male or female, regardless of their physical characteristics.
Some factors that contribute to habitual snoring may include alcohol consumption, smoking and if one is overweight. However, snoring may occur even if someone doesn’t have these risk factors. Anatomy and genetics also have a role they play in snoring. Moreover, an individual’s structure of the head, throat, and neck may make a person snore no matter what the other factors are. People who are not regular snorers may occasionally snore after drinking alcohol, when taking some medications or after a viral illness.
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What causes snoring?
Generally, snoring occurs due to the vibration of a soft palate found in the neck region. This vibration occurs when the airway becomes narrow, and due to that, the air passages get blocked. This results to that loud sound when one is breathing. Sometimes the sound produced due to snoring can be unpleasant and may disturb the sleep of anyone who is sleeping close to you. Do you continually snore? Perhaps you need to find an anti-snoring solution soonest possible otherwise this habit may pave way to a severe sleeping disorder that can cause death if not treated, known as obstructive sleep apnea.
There are specific snoring aids for snorers. Moreover, there are numerous non-prescription treatments designed for snoring such as nasal dilators, position-limiting devices, anti-snore wearables and tongue training devices. Keep reading to know more about these anti-snoring aids.
Salt machines
Salt uses are countless, and the advantages of salt therapy have been known since ancient times. A salt therapy device can be used to help gentle snoring. They are designed to replicate salt cave conditions but still in the comfort of a home. These portable machines contain rock salt and are effective in stimulating cave conditions. They are used in a salt cave therapy called speleotherapy – this treatment is best achieved by maintaining low humidity and closing all windows and doors at your home.
The device emits dry salt; aerosol, made using natural rock salt to allow the inhalation of tiny salt particles through the night. The device will produce negatively-charged dry sodium chloride, so it’ll be attracted to a positively charged surface, and can keep the inner airways open hence reducing snoring.
Nasal dilators
A nasal dilator is designed to open a user’s nasal passages mechanically. These dilators come in different forms such as in-nostril cones, in-nostril stents, and external strips. When the diameter of the nostril is increased, the dilators alleviate snoring and reduce ailments like allergy and cold congestion. Although they may not treat sleep disorders directly, nasal dilators can help people with nasal congestion conditions or obstructive sleep apnea.
Nasal Strips
A nasal strip is an external nasal dilator. It is fastened across your nose-bridge and acts as a spring for pulling the nostrils slightly open to prevent collapsing during inhalation, hence increasing air flow. These strips are merely designed with an adhesive tape and hard plastic splints which gives them the feel and looks of stiff Band-Aids. You will find several brands of these strips on the market. According to reports by American Academy of Sleep Medicine, over-the-counter dilators may reduce nasal blockage and snoring. Nasal strips are worth trying because they are noninvasive, simple to use, and relatively inexpensive.
Tongue training devices
Tongue training devices strengthen the tongue’s dorsal muscles and the upper airway muscles to minimize upper airway narrowing when one is sleeping. Currently, the methods used to train the tongue force it down and forward against the upper incisor teeth. The devices enhance tongue protrusion required to open your upper airway. There is a device model that can improve the tongue muscle resting firmness by forcing your tongue to push against a resistant which is loaded with a spring. This device uses a core method known as threshold-load resistance. The device can be calibrated and adjusted as your tongue strengthens depending on your needs during the training process. Like any other muscle training, this device will assist in strengthening and toning the tongue muscles. With time, you will narrow your airway and prevent your tongue from making backward movements in the mouth, therefore reducing snoring.
Anti-snore wearables
According to studies, snorers snore when they sleep on their back. When you sleep flat on your back, the tongue collapses into the airways, and this obstructs breathing hence promoting snoring. Side sleeping is the best position for sleeping because it keeps your airway open and allows you to breathe freely. When you change sleep positions, you will get quality sleep and minimize snoring. Several companies have alternative anti-snoring products which can be used based on a person’s snoring position.
Chin straps
A chin strap is the most cost-effective and popular anti-snoring device on the market today. It’s designed to offer a snorer a potentially inexpensive and simple therapy. Consistently, chin straps for snoring have proven to be very efficient when it comes to treating open-mouth snoring. Approximately 80% of sufferers snore with the mouths open.
A chin strap is simple to use – it fits around the head and face. This anti-snoring device is made of fabric and can typically cup your chin with straps which go up the side of your face to the top part of your face. If properly fitted, this strap will keep your mouth closed and your jaw in the right position to prevent airway blockage.
With all these anti-snoring machines and therapies it should not be difficult to find a suitable solution for your snoring problem. However, if the problem persists or you need assistance from professionals, consider contacting Becker Ear, Nose and Throat Center. This center’s team of experts will not only examine your issue but also help you find the most appropriate solution. For more information on the Becker Ear, Nose and Throat Center, please visit their website at: www.beckerent.com.