Monday, April 2, 2012

Want to Quit Snoring? Know What Causes the Problem

Want to Quit Snoring? Know What Causes the Problem

It is undeniable that snoring actually causes major problems, if not in general health then maybe with relationships. There is no wonder then why too many people want to quit snoring. Add to it the fact that everyone deserves some rest after a day of tiring work.

The sad part though is that snoring is not a voluntary act. Most snorers are not even aware that they snore unless someone tells them so. And they can either control muscles from dangling or initiate the actual snoring.

It is quite hard to isolate the actual causes of snoring from the contributing factors. Nevertheless, there are various methods of knowing which are the culprits. In the medical community, it is well known that knowledge of the causes can drive the cure to arise. Thus, it is crucial that one is able to pinpoint which among the factors aggravates the condition.

Once any root cause is properly identified, it would now be easier to find a cure that will leave everyone worry-free. By then, it would be much easier to quit snoring, it may take lots of trials and investigations though.

It all stream down from self-realization. Knowing yourself can create ways to eliminate the factors that help result to the problem. Thus, if you know that you are presently subjected to specific stimuli that create the channel for the causes then you will be able to find some ways to get around the stimulant.

Say, if you are a smoker, you are likely at a higher risk towards snoring. Smoking has been associated with too many conditions that are not only considered generally threatening but fatal. While snoring may not be a life- threatening condition, it still can affect various aspects of lifestyles that can deprive you of specific pleasures.

When a person smokes, the substance and the smoke itself cause the cells of the esophagus to react. Once this occurs, the chain reaction would result to the development of excess mucus to help the lining of the esophagus adapt to the new and harsher condition. Thus, when there are unwanted substances in the air passage, these may cause the obstruction, which then helps in the aggravation of snoring.

If this seems to be your problem, you can easily find your way out from snoring once you begin to quit smoking.

The case is different though with drinking alcohol right before bed time. Alcohol is known to induce relaxation. The fact is, once the muscles in the throat are overly relaxed, they tend to fall back from their positions towards the spaces in the throat that may obstruct the normal passage of air

Overweight individuals are also more susceptible to snoring than most individuals. It has been observed that the bigger one gets, the more likely he is to produce the annoying sounds during the night. This condition is not exactly because the person is obese but because if one is heavier then he must have more tissues lining in his neck.

These can potentially cause the problems that lead to snoring since more tissues can obstruct normal breathing.

Some people, on the other hand, suffer from various forms of allergies that can eventually lead to snores.

There are other possibilities as to what might actually cause your snores. You just have to find ways to know them. Your physician can be the best source of help as well as consultation and evaluation properly given by an otolaryngologist, a specialist in problems concerning the throat, mouth and the nose.
Sleep well, Greg

Monday, March 26, 2012

Follow These Tips and Stop Snoring Now!

 Follow These Tips and Stop Snoring Now!

You have to stop believing that snoring is a sign of a good night sleep. It's not! And it will never be. It may be cute in the first few minutes. After a while, it starts to sound as if woodworking is happening in your room in the middle of the night. And this is annoying. But if you have been snoring for days and your whole family cannot sleep, then you have to act now. Try these tips to put an end to their misery.

Stop drinking and smoking – These two can cause you to snore and wake up the whole block. The reason? Alcohol causes a partial collapse on your airways which can immediate start snoring. Smoking on the other hand causes blockage on the small vessels of the lungs and swelling on the tissue in the throat and mucus membrane in the nose. Smoking can result to sleep apnea. Take note that if you stop drinking and smoking, you are stopping other health risks as well.

Sleep regularly – Sleeping for few hours each night can cause snoring. Why? Unbalanced sleeping patterns develop into respiratory instability while asleep. And there is nothing good about respiratory instability because it can lead to unstable breathing. Hence, you need to regulate your sleeping patterns. Set a specific time of sleeping. Wake up in the morning on the same time, every day. Sometimes, 7 to 8 hours of sleep is all you need.

Use anti snoring devices – There are many of them in the market. You can get homeopathic throat sprays and tablets, throat sprays, sleeping pillows, or nasal strips and dilators. These devices help your air passage to relax and take in and out the right amount of air needed for a silent sleep.

Cure nasal congestion and allergies – If there is an inflammation on your of adenoids and/or tonsils which are caused by nasal congestion (cold) or allergies, you have to take decongestant or antibiotics. It is simple: treat nasal congestion or allergies and you will stop snoring.

Find a better sleeping position – Some people find it relaxing to sleep on the back while others are comfortable sleeping at the side. However, if the position you are comfortable sleeping in causes you to snore, better find another one. Sometimes, all you need to do is to change your sleeping position to open your airways and stop snoring.

Lose some weight – There is nothing good about being an obese. It causes several health risks and of course, it causes that load noise you create while asleep. Lose some weight by getting regular exercise and taking, eating the right diet, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Steer away from snore-triggers – If you are taking sleeping pills and products that contain antihistamines, then you are most likely a snorer. These are sedating medicines that relax the muscles and nerves. As a result, the muscle tone in the tissues of the throat relaxes and collapses. This triggers snoring just like the effect of cigarette smoking.

Consult a doctor – Mild snorers can easily be cured. But there are cases in which snoring is a sign of other serious medical condition such as hypothyroidism or diabetes that requires surgical procedures. If you are snoring for some time this is the right time to consult a doctor.
Sleep well,
Greg

Stop snoring! Snoring home remedies will give you a silent night

Stop snoring! Snoring home remedies will give you a silent night

When sleeping, the muscles and tissues in the throat tend to relax which results to the breathing airways becoming smaller than normal. The shrinkage of the air passage in the throat increases the speed of the air when breathing. When the space is constricted, the increased velocity triggers a vibration in the throat such as of the soft palate and the uvula. This is the way the noise is created when snoring.

There could be numerous roots of snoring. As concluded in sleep studies, too much drinking of alcohol, excessive fats especially in the area of the throat and taking sedatives worsen snoring. Although not all people snore when they sleep, everyone must have experienced this in one way or another. Some people snore only when they have colds or when sleeping in their backs.

To treat the snoring trouble, surgical procedures could be done. These involved the trimming of respiration obstructions such as impaired uvula, part of the enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The use of radio frequency apparatus is used to correct the deviated tissues. However, surgical processes have shown little success in terminating the snoring noise.

To avoid snoring, weight lost is recommended to those who have gained excess body fats. According to studies, a 20% excess to the normal weight can cause snoring. The next thing to avoid before sleeping is taking alcohol. It is because alcohol can relax the muscles of the body including the throat more than the customary. Sedatives can greatly contribute to snoring. Besides, becoming accustomed to sedatives is bad not only to snoring but for the health in general. Smoking can also cause the mucous membranes to bulge that it narrows the passage of the air. This increases the velocity of the air inhaled that triggers the vibration of the muscles in the throat.

The position in sleeping can help reduce snoring. Sleeping on your side is advisable so that you can breathe easily. As much good can be the effect of not using pillows when sleeping. Pillows tense the neck so they can worsen the snoring intensity.

For cases of snoring where the patient may need immediate attention but is not amendable to surgical operations, snoring devices are applicable. These oral devices are placed inside the mouth to keep the airways open and thus, make breathing easier. The appliances are prescribed by dentists in place of surgery and can treat even the acute snorers. These are safe appliances and can by far be used even at your own homes! They have easy to follows procedures and can be removed the next morning when you wake up. They’re no hassle. You can sleep as soundly as if you are wearing no apparatus at all.

Oral snoring appliances help a lot of snorers with the efficiency of 85%-90%. With the combination of the other tips stated above, snoring can be resolved and totally wiped out. And by conditioning the muscles, who knows, you may not need the oral snoring appliance anymore the next time you lie in your bed.

Snoring is a dilemma that causes more trouble in the relationships of sleepers. Why? If your mate can’t take the nuisance of your snoring, the friction of that night can last up to the following mornings!
Sleep well, Greg

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Remedy to Snoring Within the Four Corners of Your Home

Remedy to Snoring Within the Four Corners of Your Home

Snoring is known to be a condition where you breathe through your open mouth and your nose when you sleep and afterwards producing a disturbing noise from the vibration of your soft palate.

Since snoring occurs whenever you are asleep and sleep is commonly done within the comfort of your home, then expect that there are ways to fight against snoring even if you are home.

Snoring is not a deadly disease wherein you have to take expensive medications, regular check-up with a physician or perhaps countless hospital visits. Within the four corners of your home, you can do something with a family member who snores.

Trouble-free remedy for snoring is to establish a good sleeping habit. Studies show that sleeping on your back increases the chances for you to heavily snore. Hence it is suggested that you sleep on your side. By doing so, you allow your soft palate and your tongue to descend thus causing constriction to your air passage. If you are uncomfortable sleeping on your side, you can also try sleeping on your stomach. Let someone observe your sleeping patterns and let him monitor which side you sleep well and snore less.

Another sleeping habit you must bear in mind is the height of your pillow. Sleeping without a pillow or on a flat bed worsens snoring, for this reason; experts recommend that people who snore should sleep on a thick pillow. Additionally, it is also good if the head of your bed is lifted up. Make sure though that you lift the head of your bed within four to six inches only. Improper use of pillow and head bed elevation aggravates snoring.

If the above-mentioned measures where undertaken and still you have not successfully resolved your snoring dilemma whenever you are home, then try other options which you can practice at home such as the following:

 Breathing steam. Mucus clogs the air passage but once you breathe in steam your mucus will loosen up and unblock your air passageway.

 Let honey be available in your home. A number of studies have shown that honey relieves snoring by making the air passageway clear. What you can do is mix honey on your favorite tea. You can also dip your favorite fruit on the honey.

 Nasal strips – with the use of this product you are relieving nasal congestion. Take note that you can easily breathe if your nostrils are kept wide open.

 Throat sprays – this kind of snoring remedy will aid you since the spray material covers the soft tissues of your throat. By doing so, the air you breathe can easily move around your air passageway and reduce the bothersome noise snoring produces.

Anti-snoring pills – due to its plant enzyme and herb ingredients anti-snoring pills are believed to hinder the throat and nose tissue from engorgement which makes way for an unblocked and efficient air passageway.

Nasal strips, throat sprays and anti-snoring pills can be most helpful to alleviate your snoring problems. However, it is best to consult your physician before you even purchase it and store it inside your medicine box.

It is not always a must to run to a doctor or rush into a hospital when you have available cure inside your home. You can at least try and make the sufferer endure temporary relief.

Sleep well, Greg

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Top Anti-Snoring Devices You Can Avail

Top Anti-Snoring Devices You Can Avail

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 anti-snoring devices 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, provide 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 awake 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

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 anti snoring devices 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.
Sleep well, Greg

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Causes of Snoring in Children

Causes of Snoring in Children

Occasional snoring may be normal to children. Recent studies show that 3 to 12 percent of children between the age of 1 and 9 snore. But frequency doesn’t mean normality. Habitual snoring can be a cause of a more serious medical condition called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) or simply, sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by loud snoring with periods of breathing interruptions. Interruptions may be short or prolonged, usually between 5 to 30 seconds. During this period, the child's could not get straight sleep. He rouses and moves to another sleeping position, then resumes sleep. After a while he will once again begin snoring. This activity often happens several times during the night, each night. Although this condition rarely appears on children, it is very important that parents should watch out for symptoms that come along with it.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include

• Poor speech habits - talking that sounds like words over a mouthful of hot potato.
• Reduced growth rate. Children suffering from sleep apnea use more energy in breathing during the night. During meals, they tend to eat slowly since it is hard for them to breathe and chew at the same time. The result is, they have insufficient nutrients to support their growth.
• Hyperactivity. Lack of sleep can cause drowsiness on children during the day. To stay awake, children act frantically.
• Poor performance in school. Since children do not get the right sleep during the night, they tend to appear tired and lack the concentration to focus at school, thus, having a poor performance.

When these symptoms are visible, it is imperative for parents to bring their child to a pediatrician and have him examined. A child can be happy and smiling when he is brought to the doctor and therefore, it is difficult to diagnose if he really has sleep apnea. Parents are advised to record their child's snoring so that the doctor can analyze the situation in actually.

Meanwhile, sleep apnea is not the sole reason why children snore. Other reasons include allergy attack, obesity, asthma, and enlargement of adenoids and/or tonsils caused by cold or tonsillitis.

Some allergy attacks can cause swelling on the linings of the nose that can direct to the enlargement of adenoids. This keeps the child from breathing normally. This causes the child to snore. After the allergy attack, the snoring stops.

Obesity can also lead to snoring. In fact, 20% and 40% of the obese children snore. This is because fats can form around the throat that can cause constriction and makes the limited airways. Also, fats in the stomach can cause the diaphragm to function irregularly

Asthma is said to be another cause why children snore. A study revealed that 40% of the children diagnosed with asthma snore.

Enlargement of adenoids and/or tonsils caused by cold or tonsillitis also results to snoring. While cold or tonsillitis can be cured by decongestant and antibiotics, adenoid enlargement is treated by surgical procedure to remove adenoids and tonsils.

Underdevelopment of the jaw inside the womb can cause snoring as well. There is also the possibility that the nerves and the muscles cannot control the airway properly and cause that child to snore.
Sleep well, Greg

Friday, March 2, 2012

Snoring Cures: What are they?

Snoring Cures: What are they?
People who snore can be funny but when you get to sleep with someone who snores loudly every night, it becomes annoying. That is why, it is important to know the ways to cure snoring.

Here are the following ways and methods to cure snoring:

Breathing exercise – Snoring happens when there is a blockage happening in the breathing passage, particularly at the throat area. And this blockage might be because of a tensed throat, wrong positioned jaw, or stuffed nose. Take several deep breaths in order to relax the throat and make breathing normal again.

Decongestants – There are instances wherein the cause of snoring is nasal congestion. Here, the person tends to breathe through his mouth which may trigger snoring. Taking decongestants will free any blockage and relieve the person from snoring.

Anti-allergy medications – There are some allergies that result to the enlargement of adenoids. Once the allergy is cured, the snoring usually stops.

Exercise and proper diet – If the person is obese, he probably snores. This is because there is fat concentration on the airways that limits the air to go in and out freely. Also, fat formation on the stomach restricts the diaphragm to perform properly. Thus, snoring occurs. In fact, around 40% of the obese population snores. Taking regular exercise and proper diet can reduce the weigh and stop snoring, not to mention other health risks associated with obesity.

Change of bed position – There are occasions wherein snoring is the result of wrong sleeping position. Sometimes, sleeping with too many pillows can stretch and narrow the air passage. Use one pillow to avoid it. Also, lying on the back can cause snoring. So, a change in sleeping position can be a good help.

Change of lifestyle – Smoking and alcohol can contribute to the onset of snoring. Snoring may be a result of other medical conditions caused by these two. So, to maintain a good and healthy life, the person should stop or reduce smoking and alcohol intake, which in turn can cure snoring.

Review medications – Antihistamines, sleeping pills, and other types of medications can worsen snoring.

Regular sleeping habits – There are two periods of sleep: the REM sleep where the person experiences frequent dreaming and deep sleep, and the Stage 1 sleep which should only be experienced during falling asleep but can also be experienced several times if the person is sleeping poorly. Both can trigger the development of unstable breathing that can cause snoring. Irregular sleeping can also cause respiratory instability that result to unstable breathing during sleep.

Saltwater nasal droops – Nasal congestion caused by mucus can disrupt sleep and can cause snoring. To prevent this, saltwater nasal drops can be used to flush out the mucus. There are over the counter saltwater nasal drops available in drugstores. However, you can also make it on your own. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of sterilized water. Let the water cool down to body temperature and place it to a nose dropper.

However, if snoring is caused by other serious condition such as sleep apnea and enlargement of adenoids and/or tonsils, some surgical procedures like Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP) and radio frequency tissue ablation (RFTA) or Somnoplasty can be applied. It is important therefore to know the exact cause of snoring before taking any action.

Sleep well,
Greg