Quit Snoring

 

Introduction

Snoring is Not Only Annoying
Snoring is not just something people do, it is a symptom; snoring is a manifestation of
damage that caused by an underlying issue.  Because snoring has been wrongly
considered a part of many, if not most people’s sleeping habits, the damage that causes
people to snore has gone unrecognized in most people, this is true even today.

What  is The Damage? 

Sleep is the recuperative process we must have in order to be healthy and sharp.

Snoring is a disturbance that can interrupt our sleep, causing us to wake up from trouble
snoring represents in our ability to breathe well, and even from the noise snoring can
generate.  Snoring is just a problem the snoring person alone must deal with; this is
something that can affect anyone within earshot, especially a partner sleeping in the
same bed, or someone shar ing the room.  Another person snoring can keep a person
from getting truly restful sleep; this can be absolute torture for a person who must share
a bed or sleeping quarters with someone who snores.
Noise is the least of the problems snoring causes.  In its ultimately damaging form,
people die, not from snoring, but Sleep Apnea.  Snoring is just the audible manifestation
of Sleep Apnea, which is the term for when a person involuntarily stops breathing while
asleep.  It is the Sleep Apnea is that causes a snorer to breath so heavily, not to
mention loudly.  Sleep Apnea is what causes a person to wake up gasping, or to adjust
their sleeping position over and over throughout the night.  A lack of deep rest has a
cumulative degenerative effect on a person, affecting their mood, temperament, and
ability to focus, concentrate and be a productive individual.
How Bad Can It Be?
Snoring is often depicted as being cute, or humorous in the sense of how ridiculous a
persons snoring can be, but let see how funny you think it would be if you were in that

 
position.  If you have never had to sleep with a person who snores, consider this a
blessing in your  life; now let us compare the often bombastic nature of a persons snore.
The following examples should give you an idea of what so many people must endure
when trying to get a good nights rest; each of these items registers at
least
the number
of decibels as the average person who snores:
•
A gas powered lawn mower in use
•
A shop vacuum in use
•
A motorcycle in use
•
A low flying airliner
•
A chainsaw in use
•
All of your kitchen appliances running at the same time
Snoring is a Constant Issue
The point to remember about these examples is that you are subject to them for the
entire time you are trying to get rest; deep, uninterrupted, quality sleep.  This is not
blowing things out of proportion, talk to
anyone
has slept with someone who snores
what it is like and you will get an earful, so be prepared to listen.  Snoring is not like the

 
hiccups, it does not go away as suddenly as it appeared, snoring will be a persistent
issue until something is done about it, or the snorer dies in their sleep.
Why Are You Reading This?
If you are reading this chances are either you, the person you spend your nights with or
someone you care about snores and it is driving one of you, if not both of you absolutely
crazy.  Losing sleep is hugely detrimental. And it can make you feel a little crazy when
you are faced with a wall of noise that stands between you and the sleep you so need
and deserve,
every night.
You are reading this because you are looking for a solution.  You don’t want to keep
snoring, or you definitely want your  sleeping partner to stop snoring.  Don’t get the
impression that this is a brochure for snore resolving surgery, it is not.  This book
provides some very simple answers and solutions that can make all the difference in the
world; these solutions have not only eradicated snoring, but are actually life savers.
These non surgical solutions can get back the sleep you need as someone who snores,
or as a person who sleeps with someone who snores; either way the will be more sound
sleep to go around.
Before proceeding, we need to take the time to understand snoring at its most basic
level; the physical components involved in the process.  Once we understand how
snoring works we can delve deeper into looking at it’s problematic nature.  At this point
we will study the harmful process of snoring, the negative effects it has and what it
represents in the human body.
Once we understand what snoring is and what it can mean, we can then proceed into
how to remedy the snoring dilemma.  When it comes to solutions to biological
processes, understanding the surgical procedures first; in order to understand how and
why this option to snore resolution is a risky decision and in many cases does not help
at all.

 
By the end of all this reading, you perception of snoring will be drastically changed;
snoring will not be funny or acceptable for you or anyone you care about.
Chapter One
Understanding Snoring
Snoring is understood to be any kind of resonant sound that emanates from breathing
while sleeping.  The crux of the snore is where the mouth and nasal passages meet;
this is the point where breathing during sleep causes vibration; otherwise known as
snoring.  This vibration is due to constricted breathing passages.  As tight breathing
passages are responsible for snoring, it should also be understood that the more
pinched these passages are, the louder and more disruptive the snoring will be.
The reason snoring only occurs while slumbering is because the body is in a prone
position in a relaxed state.  The airway consists of tissues that operate in a similar
method to muscles.  When a person sleeps, these tissues become somewhat flaccid; so
when lying down this tissue literally blocks the breathing passage causing the sleeper to
breath with difficulty, resulting in more forceful breathing which then equates to snoring.
What  Factors into How Loud a Person Snores?
Every person is unique in their composition and physical make up.  This affects why
some people snore at a very loud volume.  Included as part of snoring the tone and
pitch; basically we all have the same parts yet we all have our own uniquely identifiable
voice, this is true for snoring as well.

 
How loud an individual may snore depends on the various factors involved in the
process.  Because there is basically a flap of tissue closing off the airway we need to
breathe, breathing becomes more labored and aggressive to supply our lungs, body
and brain with oxygen; snoring is an audible sign that the body is fighting for air.  This is
an issue that can affect just about anyone, even babies.
The smaller the passages involved with breathing are during sleep, the more forceful
the body will become in an effort to get the air it needs, thusly the tissue blocking the
airway will vibrate in proportion to the force needed to get the vital oxygen our body is
being deprived of.  This is how a snore becomes so loud.
Men Snore the Most
Generally speaking, men do most of the snoring that goes on in the world.  This has to
do again, with the physical composition of the male body; in this case, the neck, which
is typically thicker.  Because the male neck is more often fleshier in nature, there is
more tissue substance found within.  Obviously, the more tissue there is in the neck and
surrounding the breathing passages, the greater the likelihood of bombastic snoring.
Women have a natural defense to snoring in the form of Progesterone.  Granted, there
are woman who snore just a loud and violently as men, and even more so in some
cases, but it is simply not as common as it is with males.  Progesterone is used as a
form of therapy for men who suffer  from snoring.
Snoring:  Causes and Amplifiers
As we have already discussed, snor ing is a symptom  of something else.  This symptom
manifests in the form of a sound that comes from the inability to breathe easily during
sleep.  So what causes this trouble?  The tissues involved with breathing are not the
sole culprit for this bothersome pr oblem.  These factors are not gender specific; these
are issues that affect men and women, although there are roughly twice as many male
snorers as there are females who snore.  Snoring factors have to do with our health and
our lifestyle; these factors come in many combinations and include the following:

 
•
Allergies commonly affect breathing
•
Allergy medicines dehydrate the normally moist sinus passages
•
Illness such as a cold or influenza also cause labored breathing
•
Tissue scarring from surgery on the nasal passage
•
General thickness of tissues found within the sinuses
•
Nasal spray abuse agitates the sinuses and airway
•
Snorting controlled substances
•
Oversized tonsils and/or adenoids
•
Goiter, a swollen thyroid gland
•
Oversized tongue
•
Obesity results in thickness of the neck and soft tissues
•
Oversized stomach

 
•
Consumption of alcohol
•
Smoking
•
Ageing
Some of these issues affect men more than women, like excessive girth of the stomach
region.  This is believed to part of the reason men in general experience more issue
with snoring than women.
Also, controlled substances; prescribed, available over the counter, or illegal are
associated with side effects that lead to snoring such as drying the sinuses and relaxing
the tissues at the back of the throat and air passages.
We have looked over that snoring is and broken down the physical process.  We have
also gone over the many issues that can affect and cause snoring, so we must now look
deeper in to the issue to discover the truly deleterious effect snoring can have on a
person’s wellbeing.
What  is so Bad About Snoring?
The whole concept of snoring is somewhat subversive; this is where the largest danger
with snoring lies, how innocuous it is perceived by the majority of people.  Snoring as
word seems harmless enough, and this is a problem.  The connotation of the word does
not convey the true meaning of the action; when a person snores, their body is in a
state where it is being depr ived of oxygen and must therefore breathe much harder to
force open the air way.  Simply put snoring is a cry for help in the dark that says “I am
not
breathing
!”

 
Because of this common perception of snoring, people become incredulous at the idea
that snoring is a serious problem gives rise to health risks and emotional issues.  This
portion of the book addresses the severity of snoring and the many issues associated
with it.  Most people are ignorant to the fact that snoring, although common, is not
normal, healthy or acceptable.
The Physical Aspects of Snoring
What needs to happen for people to understand what snoring truly represents is a
change of perception; a dynamic shift of what snoring means.  The gravity of the
dangers of snoring cannot be stressed enough.  What follows is an abridged list of
physical health issues that are related to snoring.
•
Sleep apnea
•
Heart Disease
•
Stroke
•
Headaches
•
Night sweats
•
Heartburn
•
Swollen limbs
•
Weakened immune system
•
Loss of hearing
Remember, this is only an abridged list; there are many more physical issues that are
part of snoring.  These issues ar e not exclusive to adults, and neither is snoring.

 
Snoring is encompasses all ages and genders making anyone susceptible to the many
dangerous effects snoring can have.  Let’s take a closer look at one of the more serious
issues related to snoring.
Sleep Apnea in Depth
Sleep Apnea is a silent killer that strikes in the dark when a person is at their most
vulnerable; when a person is asleep.  This alone should be enough to make anyone
who snores, or even cares about a person who snores to seek out some resolution; find
some way to provide relief when sleeping so as not to stop breathing altogether.  The
term
apnea
is taken from the ancient Greek use of the word meaning: absence of
breathing.  Sleep Apnea is merely a precursor to asphyxiation.
The correlation between snoring and Sleep Apnea is direct:  really snoring is just
another word for Sleep Apnea.  If snoring is caused by tissue blocking the air passage;
this is an absence of breath.  The sound associated with snoring if the vibration of the
obstructive tissue is being vibrated by the body sensing this blockage and breathing
with a sense of urgency.  Sleep Apnea is when breathing stops; snoring is when the
body forces itself to breath hard enough to open the blockage.  The correlation is
simple.
Sleep Apnea does not have to be fatal to have a negative effect on a person’s health.
Breathing provides the body with oxygen, it goes into the lungs and then into the
bloodstream from where the oxygen it taken to all parts of the body.  Sleep Apnea
translates to
not
breathing; if we are not breathing, our body is starved of the oxygen it
needs to survive and operate to its
full capacity.
A lack of oxygen causes an imbalance
in the blood stream leading to an excess of carbon dioxide.  Too much Carbon dioxide
in the body creates a toxic state that can result in brain damage, heart disease or a
stroke.

 
The Emotional Aspects of Snoring
Snoring does not affect the person who is actually snoring alone.  Anyone close to a
person who snores with any degree of severity understands this fact.  How snoring
affects the people around a person who snores is just as serious as the health risks
involved.  A person, who snores loudly; meaning as loud a running motorcycle or some
other internal combustion device, can keep their partner from sleeping.  A loud snorer
can disrupt the whole house through the course of the night, every night.
This should begin to expose the vast area of problems that can arise due to snoring.  A
person who sleeps with someone who snores, or maybe shares the same room, or
shares a wall between rooms, even so far as to be in the same building knows that
tr ying to get a full night of deep, restful sleep is an exercise in futility.  There is a lot of
frustration involved with situations like these because the person snoring may be
unaware of it, or believe there is nothing that can be done for it.  Snoring can come with
a costly emotional price tag; the following are few examples of emotional disturbances
resulting from snoring:
•
Loss of sleep can cause depression or anxiety
•
Break up of relationships, including marriages
•
Eviction from dwelling for bothering tenants
•
Clashing living partners or neighbors due to sleep disruption
•
Poor performance at work leading to unemployment due to lack of sleep
•
Short term and long term memory issues from lack of sleep
•
Lack of compassion from those affected by snoring
These are but a few of the many emotional problems that are part and parcel of snoring.
The effects of snoring are very far reaching and destructive to those subject to them.

 
Beneath the surface of each of these emotional states are the mental states associated
to the person who snores and the person who has to deal with it.  A few of the
emotional states caused from snor ing follow:
•
Exhaustion
•
Frustration
•
Resentment
•
Anger
•
Helplessness
•
Anguish
•
Desperation
•
Low self esteem
•
Confusion
It is not hard to see how lack sleep can affect ones demeanor, especially if it the loss of
sleep is du to someone else’s snoring.  One can quickly lose empathy for a person who
snores when they are the on being kept up.  So how can the snoring issue be solved?
There are different schools of thought and many approaches to alleviating snoring
which will be discussed shortly, but first the surgical approach will be addressed and
why it should not be the first choice.
15
 
Chapter Two
Snoring and Surgery
Living in the twenty first centur y affords wonderful advances in medicine and surger y.
Snoring is something that has plagued mankind since time immemorial.  A person who
snores in this day and age does is lucky in the sense that the impact of snoring is really
starting to be understood.  Before taking any approach to stop snoring, take advantage
of what the medical community has to offer; find out
why
you are snoring.  Knowing the
root cause behind a snore will help to point you in the right direction as to how to

 
eliminate or mitigate the snore as much as possible.  Available options for relief can
include allergy medicine up to surgery, although surgery for snoring is rarely if ever the
best choice.
Snoring Does Not Equal Surgery
Surgery is often the considered to be the ultimate remedy to many of life’s problems.
This does not always apply to snoring.  In fact, the nature of surgery and snoring do not
really go too well together.  Surgery should be considered as the very last resort for
several reasons.  There are risks involved with any surgical process, and in many cases
these risks are outweighed by the benefits; but this is usually the case where there are
few if any other options to taking care of a problem that is affecting a person’s health
and well being.
Snoring Surgery
Surgery is an explorator y process.  The very nature of what surgery is seems somewhat
counterproductive to solving something like snoring, especially when there are other
methods to address the issue that are much less invasive and can be just as
successful.  Surgery causes scarring, and because it is an exploratory process, there is
no way to know what a doctor is going to encounter until they are in the process of
cutting and opening up the patient.  Surgery can often be the actual cause of snoring
after going through a procedure such as rhinoplasty.
The truth is that surgeries performed in an effort to resolve issues with snoring have not
always yielded the desired result for a large percentage of people who have had it.
Surgery for snoring is not a common process, and is not as reliable as some surgical
procedures that are performed on a regular basis.  Because snoring is the result of
tissue blocking the air passage, the surgical answer is to remove any excess tissue that
may be causing the blockage.
For certain people, this may be a reasonable and acceptable answer to their snoring
problem, but this is most definitely not the case for the majority of people who snore.

 
Keep in mind that snoring is not always the source of the problem; snoring is more
often, if not most often a symptom of something else in the body.  The cause of an
individuals snoring issue is going to be unique and distinct to each person, therefore,
there is not one simple cure-all remedy to take care of every persons snoring problem.
The following page contains an example of the complexity involved with snoring and
how surger y does not always address the root cause.
An Example: From Snoring to Insurance
Let’s look at something simple and non-medical: car insurance.  Let’s take 20 people
who are considered
bad drivers
by their insurance companies.  As a result of that
dubious distinction, all of these drivers are going to face a premium increase of $500
when they’re insurance is renewed.
Now, seen at a distance, it might appear as though all of these drivers are in the same
boat (or same
car
, as it were).  And given that assumption, a method to deal with this
problem might be to simply give each of these people an extra $500 in cash.  Really,
as strange as that sounds, this
is
a way to solve this problem for each of these 20
drivers: they need to find $500 more to pay their insurance premium, and hence, that
is what this so-called solution is going to do.  Yet is this wise?  No!
Some of those drivers – probably more than a few of them – are not going to actually
correct
why they might be classified as a “bad driver” by their insurance company.
They simply won’t know
why
they’re bad drivers, and hence, some of them will likely
remain a “bad driver”, and face higher insurance premiums next year  – but this time
after a few more accidents or tickets.
As you can easily see, the real
cause
of the so-called “bad driving”  isn’t solved when
each person is given a nice gift of $500 with which to pay his or her increased
insurance premium.  And since the problem isn’t really solved, the
bad driving can
crop up again
, and cause financial problems and even worse, it can endanger health
and safety.

 
So when people readily turn to trachea tissue-cutting surger y to
cure
their snoring,
they may quite easily be overlooking the real root cause of the snoring; something that
may be related to diet, sleep position, jaw or tongue dysfunction, lifestyle, genetics, or
be an indication of an even
more serious
health problem; an indication that could be
dangerously suppressed (temporarily, at least), after a seemingly
successful
surgery.
Going to surgery as an easy, off-the cuff solution for snoring, is like giving these bad
drivers $500 in cash.  It may seem to solve their problem, but for many, it will just be a
temporary fix; masking
even deeper problems
that can lead to severe consequences
down the road, including Sleep Apnea.
Reasons to Deny Surgery for Snoring
Surgery is often prescribed as the first and only solution to a person who has a problem
with snoring.  Surgery in many cases, for different ailments, is considered as the first
and only for of treatment there might be.  This is not so with snoring.  Where surgery
can save lives and minimize suffering, it also comes with costs in addition to the
finances involved.  There are a multitude of reasons that surgery should not be
considered due to the risks involved with surgery which include the following:
•
Post operation cosmetic effects
•
Infection
•
Scare tissue and inflammation
•
Costly follow- up surgical procedures
•
Time intensive healing process
•
Costly drugs to ease pain and manage swelling
•
Potential of damage to speech and tone of voice
•
Complications with swallowing

 
•
Potential seepage from  wound and hemorrhaging
•
Potential for irritating dry mouth
•
Potential for severe pain in ears
Overview of Surgical Procedures for Snoring
Surgery is a life saving tool that has saved countless lives, but in this day and age, there
is a surgical procedure for just about everything.  Some of these procedures can be
frivolous and unnecessary.  When it comes to snoring specifically, surgery is not a
guaranteed solution to the problem.  It is essential that anyone who deals with snoring,
either directly or indirectly is aware of this when looking for a way to fix the problem.
The following examples go over the common surgical procedures for snoring and how
they might disappoint the patient.  These examples state the name of the surgical
procedure, what it is designed to do and most importantly the many ill effects that have
been reported as a result of each respective procedure.
The problems listed as a result of the different surgical processes are serious.  These
problems range from finances to long term or permanent issues the patient may have to
deal with after undergoing snoring surgery.  What each of these surgeries is actually
designed to do can be an absolute turn off, and when you consider the problems
associated with them, the compounded effects are something to be gravely considered
when there are so many other options available.  Again, this is why in most cases,
surgery should be considered as a last resort, if at all.
These are the risks associated with surgical procedures for snoring specifically; there
are other risks that are a part of any surgical procedure; but these other kinds of issues
cannot be compared to the unique set of problems that snoring creates and the different
surgeries designed to fix snoring.  Cost for example, is always an issue, but should be
taken into account for an issue like snoring whereas for an issue like cancer, or a failing
organ, the cost must be incurred to preserve and improve life.  Another risk is
anesthesia.  Being “put under” for surgery is not always the case, but for any kind of

 
major surger y it is the case.  Having surgery performed for snoring would require this
and anesthesia has been known to result in complications if not death in some
instances.
Name of Surgery Designed to…
Reported
Problems…
irritating to
tissues and
Create an opening
possible scarring
in the trachea
requires follow-up
surgery
Tracheostom y
(sometimes this is
nasal secretions
called a
can clog air pipe
tracheotomy)
and lead to
breathing
difficulties
expensive
may require
follow-up surgery
of obstruction
occurs again
post-operation
infection
possible speech
UPPP (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty) expand the airway
and end snoring
defects
higher than
normal
hemorrhage risk
swallowing
problems
not effective for
Sleep Apnea

 
Name of Surgery Designed to…
Reported Problems…
dr y mouth
Changes to voice (to be
Uses lasers to
avoided by people who
remove uvula
require their voice to
and obstructing
earn their living!)
LAUP (Laser Assisted
tissues, without
pain in the ears
Uvuloplasty)
removing tonsils
unpredictable success
or lateral
rate
can mask deeper
tissues
problems and/or lead to
new complications
Burns the
post-operation
discomfort and pain
palate in order
currently in experimental
to stiffen it
stages (unproven)
CAPSO (Cautery-assisted palatal
against
difficulty predicting if
stiffening operation)
vibration, and
surgery will be
removes the
successful
mucosa along
expensive
the uvula.
Aside from these examples, there are other new kinds of snore specific surgeries that
have been developed which include
somnoplasty
and
snoreplasty.
These procedures
are new and as yet unproven to have any kind of reliable success rate in addition to not
knowing what any long tem effects may arise from these kinds of surgeries for snoring.
In general surgery is a good thing, a ver y good thing; but this does not mean that
surgery is the best step to take when looking to resolve an issue with snoring.  To be
clear; there are cases where surgery is absolutely the best possible solution for a
person suffering from snoring and the positive effects resound just like the negative
ones did when snoring was causing loss of sleep and all the negative health issues and
frames of mind that go along with that.

 
Luckily there are other options available.  Non-surgical answers to snoring abound,
some of these remedies have been around for a long time, while others are relatively
new.  These less invasive steps to alleviating snoring are where the majority of relief
from snoring comes from.  Countless people use these alternative methods with great
success around the world, making it easier for them and those around them to sleep
and feel good which we will now take a look at.
Chapter Three
Non-Surgical Solutions to Snoring
Having already gone over the surgical aspects of snoring, the risks and procedures; we
now turn our attention to the more common approaches to dealing with snoring.  The
non-surgical options for resolution of snoring can be broken down into different types of
approaches: medicines, devices and appliances, changes in lifestyle concerning diet
and exercise, sleeping habits and alternative forms of therapy for snoring.  Any of these
can be implemented with success depending on the root cause of the snoring, and
knowing what that root cause is.  This may require a combination approach, and will
definitely require observation of the effects of these measures on the snoring issue itself
in order to estimate how much relief results.
Medicinal Solutions
In many cases, prescribed medicines can provide a way out of the snoring nightmare.
Drugs are prescribed to achieve relief from snoring by accomplishing these tasks:

 
•
Unfurl the nasal airway
•
Energize breathing
•
Counteract deep R.E.M. sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)
R.E.M. sleep is an integral part of sleep.  It is the deep state of sleep in which the body
recoups vitality and allows the mind to stay sharp and healthy.  The effect of these
snore related drugs is to limit the depths to which the body can relax when in this state
so as to keep the throat from relaxing too much and keeping the air passage open and
free of obstruction thus leading to relief from snoring.  Basically these medicines have
the opposite effect of what happens when someone takes a sedative or has too much to
drink.  These things relax a person more than usual and can exacerbate an existing
snoring problem, or cause a person who does not normally snore to do so.
There are over the counter drugs available from pharmacies intended specifically to
clear nasal sinuses and air passages.  These drugs are meant to treat cold or flu
symptoms, but are also useful to snorers for the decongestive and antihistamine
properties contained therein.  Saline sprays, because they are sold in pharmacies as
well are considered part of the same group.  These sprays are not controlled
substances, buy merely salt water used to keep sinuses and other tissues surrounding
the air passages moist in an effort to reduce or eliminate vibration and thusly snoring.
Devices for Snoring
There are a number of devices out there to help people cope with their snoring.  These
items start with very basic items and go to the very complex.  Most of these can be
acquired at your local drugstore, on the internet and by catalogue.  The most popular
and effective anti-snore items follow.

 
The Sandler Pillow™
Named after the inventor of this type of pillow, this device is designed to eliminate
snoring by obliging the sleeper to sleep on their side.  This often promotes a closed
mouth while sleeping and helps to minimize vibration and thereby cancels out any
snoring.
The Snore Ball
Since its invention in the early 1900’s this effective device has helped countless people
to stop snoring by sleeping on their side.  The snore ball is inserted in a pouch located
on the back of a set of pajamas.  When the sleeper goes to roll onto their back from
sleeping on their side, the device makes this very uncomfortable, so the sleeper will
resume the side sleeping position rather than sleeping on their back which is when most
people snore.  The snore ball can be any kind of ball that will create enough discomfort
to keep one from sleeping on their back.  Over time a habit is formed making the ball
unnecessary.
Sleep Position Monitor
This electronic device basically accomplishes the same goal in a different manner.
Instead of creating physical discomfort when a person lies on their back, which is when
snoring occurs, the sleep position monitor starts to beep when the sleeper lies on their
back.  The beeping can be disturbing to others, but the point is that this device helps
establish new sleeping behaviors.  Anyone who has suffered a person snoring can deal
with a little beeping until the problem is resolved.  By learning a better way to sleep, the
person will stop snoring and the beeping will not be an issue over time.  Eventually the
sleep position monitor may not be necessary either.

 
Nasal Strips
This is a simple yet highly effective device that has become popular for many people.
The concept is basic, open up the nostrils to make breathing easier.  The device
consists of a springy plastic strip combined with and adhesive material.  The strip is put
on at bedtime and taken off in the morning.  The strips are so effective in maximizing
breathing through the nose that they are used by many players of different sports.  This
is an over the counter remedy that anyone can use because there is absolutely no
medicine involved.  Even non snorers are using them to get better more restful sleep by
breathing easier and recharging their body with more oxygen.
Nasal Dilators
Nasal dilators offer the same relief of opening up the nostrils to ease breathing, but take
a slightly different approach than the nasal strips.  This kind of device is actually a coil
made of steel or plastic placed into the nostrils when going to sleep.  The effect is easier
breathing, less snoring.
Throat  Sprays
This is another way to combat snoring.  A simple spray to the back of the throat keeps
the tissues well lubed in order to reduce or eliminate vibration.  This is similar to a saline
spray, the difference is what the spray consists of which in this case are specialized oils,
not just salt water.  Throat sprays are another form of simple, inexpensive, yet effective
of combating snoring when used
properly.
Overuse of throat sprays can irritate the
throat and then actually cause snoring.  If an over the counter spray is not good enough,
a doctor can prescribe a more effective version of the same implement.

 
Snore Stopper™
The snore stopper is a device that provides a negative association with snoring to make
the person sleeping stop snoring.  The device can be worn on the arm or the wrist and
whenever snoring is detected the device gives the sleeper a small jolt of electricity to
get them to stop.  Another version actually causes the tongue muscles to tense which
opens the airway making it easier to breathe and hence stop snoring.
Snoring Appliances
Snoring appliances are applied inside the mouth to directly influence or affect the
components of the mouth to eliminate snoring.  These work to manipulate the tongue,
jaw and palate in some combination to stop snoring and provide better rest.
Oral Appliances
These sets of tools are often designed by medical and dental professionals to help with
the snoring dilemma.  They have different names such as The Equalizer
™
and The
Silencer
™.
By influencing the parts of the mouth these devices affect three basic
properties to eliminate snoring; they are:
•
Keeping the mouth closed so that a person may not snore by making the trachea
vibrate.
•
Positioning the jaw in a forward placement to keep the tongue from sliding back
and blocking the airway.
•
Opening the airway as much as possible to ease breathing and prevent snoring.
27
 
Tongue Retaining Appliances
This style of appliance specifically targets the tongue.  The effect of this appliance
keeps the tongue for ward by using suction to train the tongue not to lay back over the
airway.  This increases airflow making it easier to breathe and preventing the vibration
that causes snoring.  A tongue retainer is for people who cannot or will not sleep on
their side, and although a tongue retainer may be less than comfortable, it is a highly
effective option.
Mandibular Advancement Appliances
Shortened to MAA, this is a splint style of appliance that are basically like a mouth
guard used in sports.  This keeps the jaw locked in a position that keeps it from moving
back and creating an obstruction that leads to snoring.  These must be custom molded
by a dental professional and may be somewhat costly but are a great way to stop
snoring.
Thronton Adjustable Positioners
The Silencer
™
is a popular example of this kind of device, which was created by Dr.
Thronton in the 1990’s.  This is an expensive option, but for a reason; it is adjustable
and is sometimes crafted from titanium.  These are often referred to as TAPs, and are
similar in nature to MAAs in that they move the jaw forward in order to keep the  airway
open and prevent snoring.
Palate Lifters

 
Also known as lip shields, or lip lifters, this appliance augments the palate to keep from
vibrating and causing a person to snore.  This is an option to consider, although there
has yet to be a resolute opinion in the efficiency of this type of appliance.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
This appliance is designed to tackle Sleep Apnea specifically.  It works similar to an
oxygen mask.  The mask is worn on the face, or over the nose and keeps what is called
positive pressure in the airway which prevents the collapse of tissue and eases
breathing to the point of controlling ones blood pressure while asleep.
Lifestyles and Snoring – Diet
Allergies
Allergies have been linked to snoring, but because there are so many allergens, and
each person is different, it is up to the individual to observe when they are snoring and
what they are allergic to.  Any kind of allergic reaction can lead to snoring, so when you
are suffering from allergies, whether they a food allergies or pet, you need to take notice
and take the appropriate measures to handle these allergies.
Weight
If you are overweight and snore, you can bet that your snoring is at least in part related
to your obesity.  Losing weight has a wide variety of health benefits, including better
sleep by not snoring.  This has to do with your diet and eating habits, so if you shape
up, you may stop snoring altogether.
Eating Habits
Certain foods cause congestion, like dairy, fried foods, junk food and sweets.  If you
snore, your diet probably has something to do with it.  Eating a healthier diet can

 
improve your  health as well as minimize if not alleviate any snoring.  There are foods
that are considered to be beneficial for people who snore, which consist mostly of leafy
greens.
Clean Living
Your  habits can determine whether or not you will snore.  Healthy habits actually
prevent snoring.  Drinking and sleeping pills are known to cause snoring; use these in
moderation.  If you smoke and you snore, chances are quitting will help you sleep better
by not snoring.  Caffeine has been linked to respiratory issues, so keep your intake to a
minimum.
Lifestyles and Snoring – Exercise
Exercise in general is good for the body, and helps to achieve more restful sleep.
Healthy habits help prevent to minimize snoring, but there are snoring specific exercises
one can do.
Throat  Work Out
Toning the muscles of the throat can really improve the breathing process when
sleeping, thus helping with snoring if not eradicating it all together.  There are a few
options to stress the muscles systems that affect snoring. You can firmly hold a pencil
between your teeth for up to five minutes.  Pressing a finger to the chin with moderate
pressure for a few minutes builds jaw strength.  Also holding the tip of the tongue firmly
against the bottom front teeth strengthens the tongue.  These are exercises that can be
done anytime, anywhere.  These should not be painful, and the more these exercises
are implemented, the better the results will be.
Sleep Factors
One needs to consider the way in which one sleeps and how that affects the way you
breathe at night.  Sleeping on your  back promotes snoring, but having a good pillow, or
sleeping with something under the chin can help to stop snoring.  Anything to keep the

 
mouth shut during sleep is a big help.  Your sleep environment plays a role in snoring
too.  A humidifier will help keep the throat and sinuses moist, and making the room as
dark  and quiet as possible helps to reduce stress, and calm the person sleeping to the
point that breathing becomes easier.
Snoring Therapy Alternatives
Here are some other approaches one can try when dealing with snoring; these have
been around for some time because of how successful they have been in combating
snoring.  A warm drink before bed; herbal tea can really help alleviate snoring.
Relaxation techniques to calm the mind and practice breathing techniques like Tai Chi
and Yoga have been of great benefit to many snorers.  Other forms of relaxation include
meditation and massage, or even just soothing music.  Homeopathic medicines offer
many ways to deal with snoring too.  These include products like Snore Stop
™
and Y-
Snore

Homeopathic alternatives look to achieve the same end result in different
ways, such as dissolving blockages in the nose and throat or lubrication with natural
products.  Magnetic therapy is popular in china and can help ameliorate snoring by
affecting the nerves found in the nose.  Magnets can be put all over the body to achieve
results that improve issues with snoring.  This applies even to weight loss which can in
turn affect snoring.  Even hypnosis has been used to help control snoring by some,
although many are skeptical of this practice as it is not a recognized successful solution
to snoring.  Other more “alternative” therapies are based on light and color, or in other
circumstances gems and crystals as sources of healing power.  These latter examples
have yet to be established as effective by science or medicine, but the power of belief
can be enough to produce the placebo effect.  So as long as the end result is the
cessation of snoring, any means can be tried and tested to see if they work for a given
individual.