Are you concerned about the sound of your snore? Maybe it’s you who is the only one who snores. Or perhaps it is spouse, husband or wife who snores? Whatever the reason it can be an issue for the person who is snoring and their partner.
In this blog, we examine in depth the concept of snoring, its causes and how it occurs, as well as what the possible solutions could be.
Why do people snore?
Snoring occurs when a portion of your airway narrows during sleep and relaxed, this narrowing may be heard as you breathe, causing the sound of snoring.
Anything which makes the narrowing of your snore smaller or helps you relax and sleeping can increase the risk of snoring. Think about things such as:
Being overweight. The weight gain can enlarge the airway and place more pressure on the smaller part which can cause you to snore even more.
Alcohol consumption is a major factor. This can encourage a deeper sleep/unconsciousness which means the muscles relax and the airway narrows.
Do not sleep on your back. The tongue could fall back, and narrow the airway.
Stopping smoking. Smoking cigarettes can cause irritation and blockage of the airway, making snoring more likely.
There are other medical conditions like sleep apnoea, which means that your airway is temporarily blocked while you’re asleep. This isn’t necessarily related to alcohol, weight or the position you sleep in. you lie down.
How can you stop snoring?
Before you start looking at methods to stop snoring, it’s important to think about why you are snoring in the first in the first place. This will provide a more specific solution.
Strategies to stop snoring include:
Mandibular advancement devices.
Surgery.
CPAP Machines (Constant Positive Air Pressure).
These methods to stop snoring come in addition to the more obvious loss of pounds, cutting down on drinking, and cutting down on smoking.
Mandibular advancement devices
After a snoring evaluation by the dentist, mandibular advancement devices can dramatically decrease the amount of snoring you experience. They function by pulling your lower jaw forwards. As your jaw moves forward, the muscles that are attached pull it forward and open your airway.
This method is so efficient that emergency medical personnel can pull your jaw forwards when you’re unconscious. This action alone will help open the airway, allowing an unconscious patient to breathe more comfortably.
Wearing your mandibular advancement device during the night They are comfortable to wear and aid you in getting a great night’s sleep, without the snoring.
This kind of device is among the devices to stop snoring that actually work.
Other sleep aids to stop snoring
Other methods to prevent snoring are things such as anti-snoring pillows or devices that prevent sleeping on your back. They all work similarly by allowing you to alter the position you sleep in to ensure that you don’t snore.
If your snoring isn’t solely due to your position it is possible that you are prone to snore while using any of these devices. If this is the case , then an advancement device for the mandible could be a better option for you.
Operation to stop the snoring
There is an operation known as somnoplasty. This operation is a straightforward procedure to alter the shape of your airway, specifically the soft palate and uvula. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic , so it is fairly quick and has a short recovery time.
However, this treatment is not recommended for those with sleep apnoea.
Obstructive sleep apnoea , also known as OSA
OSA can take snoring to a new level, when the muscles relax to the point that the airway is completely blocked. When this happens, breathing becomes difficult.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a problem that affects both women and men alike, impacting sleep and general health.
If the apnoea continues for longer than 10 seconds, the oxygen level in blood may decrease which can lead to hypoxia. If this occurs frequently during the night, it could cause sleep disruptions that are extremely disruptive.
CPAP Machine
In the most extreme cases, a continuous positive air pressure device can be employed to ensure that the airway remains open. This ensures that the blood is oxygenated since the airway isn’t shut and sleep is often much more comfortable.
This kind of device is prescribed by your physician following sleep apnoea test results.
If you suffer from the habit of snoring (as as opposed sleeping apnoea) and want more information on the device that can assist, contact us now.