Apnea Chin Strap

What is Infantile Apnea?

Apnea Chin Strap

Infantile Apnea 

The term “apnea” generally denotes a blockage in spontaneous breathing. Simply put, people with this stop breathing and wake up struggling for breath. You would know of this happening in a huge number of adults in the country, but it also occurs in infants. Infantile apnea occurs in children who are under on year in age. It is often the result of a neurological issue damaging the respiratory rhythm. The symptoms include breathing stoppage while the child is asleep, skin discoloration, and even a slowed heartbeat. This could even prove fatal.

Symptoms

Infantile apnea has temporary cessation of normal breathing as its main symptom. Other than that, the child may develop cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the lips, mouth, and skin), or bradycardia (unusually slow heartbeat). The aforesaid cessation can last up to 15 seconds in each episode.

Sleep apnea in infants can manifest in many forms. To better understand respiration, one must understand that respiration owes its regulation to a specific bunch of nerves in the brain. These are what control cadence of breathing relative to fluctuating blood oxygen levels. Children with central apnea have a low respiratory drive, and when apnea hits, they make no chest movements, nor do they have air passing through the nose or mouth. Here, the brain fails to adequately signal the lungs and diaphragm to move as they should. Breathing stops off, and only resumes when the oxygen-deprived brain is able to relay the proper messages.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is different, in that it results from the airway getting blocked and complicating breathing. The blockage in this type of apnea can be from a range of reasons, such as soft tissue in the throat collapsing. The child’s chest moves, but air does not flow to the lungs. When the infant finally does resume breathing, he or she typically makes a snorting noise and wakes up. Here, breathing does not stop per se; the infant simply struggles to draw breath spontaneously.

Causes

Infantile apnea has no exact known causes. It can happen as the result of a mix of developmental and environmental factors. In some very rare cases, it can be hereditary, which means more than one family member runs the risk of having apnea episodes.

Infantile apnea can happen from many causes. Prematurely born babies can experience apnea episodes. Other causes, such as Sepsis, Hypoglycemia, Hyaline Membrane Disease, Arnold Chiari Syndrome, Meningitis, enlarged adenoids, Down’s Syndrome, gastro esophageal reflux, anemia, Zellwenger Syndrome, craniofacial abnormalities, Alpers Syndrome, Holoprosencephaly, chromosomal abnormalities, Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome, and intracranial hemorrhage, need to be ruled out as well. Some of these are rare diseases, requiring skilled specialists to treat.

Related Disorders

Infantile apnea is seen to affect males and females equally commonly, and occurs in children under a year of age. Infants born prematurely have a tendency to suffer from what is known as apnea of prematurity.

The symptoms of some disorders are the same as those of infantile apnea, which is accurate diagnosis requires comparisons. SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, where a young child or infant does unexpectedly, involves the child not breathing at a time when he or she is supposed to be asleep. However, SIDS and apnea have no established common base.

Standard Therapies

Sleep Apnea

Standard Therapies

It is possible to hold back the more severe complications, which could arise from infantile apnea, by setting up cardiac monitors and home apnea monitors to alert caregivers or parents when something goes awry. It goes without saying that these devices should only be bought following the advisement of a physician, and that safety and effectiveness should be given top priority. Sometimes, drugs may need to be administered in order to stimulate the child’s flailing respiratory system. Parents would do well to learn basic lifesaving techniques like CPR. The infant must be kept from overheating, so as to minimize chances of apnea. He or she should lie supine during sleep, assuming there is no Obstructive Sleep Apnea or gastro esophageal reflux.

If the symptoms worsen, medication intake may be the only way out, with or without oxygen supplied to the child. Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea can benefit from the use of a CPAP machine, which helps regulate their breathing. This comprises a mask placed on the nose and connected to a machine, which forces out low-pressure air towards the child’s lungs. All said, it is a low safer than wearing an apnea chin strap in one’s sleep.

Investigational Therapies

Many ongoing studies are being aimed at figuring out new ways to treat infantile apnea. New drugs such as primidone are being studied to see if they can help cure infants resistant to theophylline. Much deeper research may be needed to know exactly how safe and effective such drugs can be in this area. There is constant US government funding for such efforts, as well as support from the private industry.

A Helpful Guide to Snoring and Apnea Chin Strap

Apnea Chin Strap

Snoring Related Issues

Snoring has become one of the main reasons for concern these days, as it affects a majority of the population. Snoring occurs because of the vibration of tissues within the throat and nose that blocks the airways, which are caused as a result of the turbulent airflow through the restricted airways. This will also create an unappealing noise making it hard for the snorer as well as their partners to sleep peacefully.

Most people overlook snoring mainly out of embarrassment. However, snoring may lead to many serious health issues like sleep apnea, mental health issues, insomnia, etc., in some cases. Sometimes, it can also be an indicator of other health issues such as heart problems, liver problems, migraine, and many more. Thankfully, there are many snoring aids available, which help people to alleviate their snoring issues. For instance, consider a sleep apnea chin strap. This is one of the easiest and comfortable snoring aids, which snorers may consider for a quick relief. Nevertheless, it is recommended to consult a doctor before using any kind of snoring aids.

How Apnea Chin Strap Works

An apnea chin strap is made using a fabric and is designed in such a way it can be wrapped comfortably around the head of a snorer by means of stretchable straps. The chin strap will also have holes on each side so that the ears of snorer are held perfectly in place. Note that there are chinstraps without holes as well, but the ones with holes for the ear are better, because it will also alleviate the chances of apnea chin strap falling off when the person is asleep.

Snoring chin strap is used to keep the mouth of the snorer shut while sleeping in order to prevent the jaw muscles from falling backward. According to a recent study, around 60% of the total population in the United States is suffering from snoring problems, and out of that, almost 80% breathes through their mouth. Hence, this will be a viable option to stop snoring.

Advantages of Choosing an Apnea Chin Strap

  • No particular care is required when it comes to the storage of chin straps. You can keep it in the drawer with your clothes, on your nightstand, or any other convenient place.
  • The set up of an apnea chin strap is really simple. You just have to put the strap around the head and secure its bottom part around the jaw.
  • Chin strap does not require any type of particular cleaning products, unlike other snoring aids. There is no need to worry about your chin strap getting damaged either.

Why Do Apnea Patients Wear a Chinstrap in Combination with CPAP Mask

Apnea Chin Strap

Apnea Patients

Chinstraps are fastened around the lower jaw and the head’s top. If you are under continuous positive airway pressure therapy, the slightly pressurized air being supplied via the nose through a face mask will leak out if the mouth falls open during sleep. This is why apnea patients at times use anti snoring chinstraps to mitigate the side effects of CPAP.

When sleeping, the lower jaw stays in a relaxed position and that can make you to breathe through the mouth. Mouth breathing often causes a sore throat or a dry mouth in apnea patients, especially when they wake up. However, patients can mitigate the side effects of CPAP by wearing an apnea chin strap. Wearing the anti snoring chin strap makes it tough for the mandible to relax while sleeping, which helps to keep the nasal mask securely in place and the mouth closed.

If you use a full face CPAP mask while sleeping, and find that air is leaking due to an open mouth, it is best to use a nasal mask instead and seal it with a chinstrap. Obviously, mouth breathing tend to cause snoring, so wearing a chinstrap in combination with a nasal mask is advisable to mitigate the symptoms of sleep apnea.

You might require a chinstrap if you snore even during the CPAP therapy, as that indicates you are breathing through the mouth despite wearing a nasal mask. So, even if you use that type of CPAP mask, using a chin strap for snoring in combination with that will give comfort to your sleep.

Even if you are not snoring, it will not be very comfortable to wake up with a sore throat or dry mouth. Such side effects are consequences of sleeping with an open mouth, which can be mitigated by using an apnea chin strap. Most of such chinstraps are made in a way they are compatible with a specific type of CPAP mask, so there is no doubt that you get a tight seal, especially if you wear it with nasal mask type. Further, most chinstraps are also made of soft fabric, which will not brush against the face rather uncomfortably, and stretchable material that contours to the shape of the face and ensures you of a tight fit.

The Link between Asthma and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Apnea Chin Strap

Sleep Apnea And Asthma

Apnea and asthma are quite common in kids and adults. Having either one of the health conditions may increase the likelihood for the other one to develop in people. In case, one suffers from both asthma and sleep apnea, it will have an influence on how the person responds to treatment options for both.

One reason for that is apnea and asthma have some common risk factors, that increase the likelihood one may develop, either of the conditions or make it tough to manage one condition if one exists. Obesity or being overweight, nasal allergies to dust mites, GERD, and metabolic risk factors of obesity including diabetes are associated with asthma and OSA.

People suffering from severe asthma, in particular, are prone to develop Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Likewise, it may prove to be tough to get asthma in check if sleep apnea is left untreated in a person. Henceforth, apnea patients run the risk of being susceptible to develop asthma over time.

Both health conditions affect the breathing process. OSA is a form of sleep-disordered breathing that occurs when the upper airway collapses recurrently during sleep, which blocks the free airflow. The flow of air is lessened in case of asthma as well, but typically in the lower airways that supply oxygen to the lungs. Asthma-related breathing difficulty will not occur only in sleep usually, but the symptoms do tend to worsen at night.

Once the flow of air is partially blocked, it leads to swelling of the tissues, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which is characterized by a response to sudden increases in the oxygen levels. These responses to asthma and OSA symptoms are quite similar.

If one part of the respiratory tract is blocked, it will make the respiratory tract’s other parts susceptible to collapse at night or prone to inflammation indicate research. This may prove to be an even serious concern if one has shared risk factors of both asthma and apnea.

Both conditions can cause disruptions during sleep if the symptoms are not kept in check, which may lead to not feeling properly rested or refreshed, and lapses in concentration in the daytime. Getting sufficient sleep is significant to manage the associated symptoms. Besides, some researches even indicate that treating OSA in time may improve consequences of asthma if the patient responds well to the apnea treatment.

Why and How to Wear a Chin Strap to Alleviate Sleep Apnea

Apnea Chin Strap

Alleviate Sleep Apnea 

A sleep apnea chin strap worn before bedtime tackles mouth breathing by keeping the relaxing jaws in a firm position. It’s important to clear breathing through the mouth in order to alleviate the loud snoring symptom of apnea, alongside dry mouth or a sore throat when one wakes up in the morning. Those symptoms occur since apnea patients have a tendency to sleep slack-jawed with an open mouth. A chin strap can clear this. Besides, breathing through the nose is a healthier practice than mouth breathing.

However, if you have nasal congestion or suffer from a deviated septum, you need an alternative procedure to clear mouth breathing apart from chin straps. Consult with a sleep specialist before purchasing the cure for mild to moderate apnea.

When it comes to usage, chin straps will be adjustable enough so that your jaws stay in position, but not too stretchable that the mouth opens. There is a concern in apnea patients that chin straps made of elastic material may not be fully beneficial to apnea treatment, but that isn’t true if you know how to wear it. Make it a point to strap the chin strap snugly when wearing before sleep. Most such devices are sturdy enough to keep the jaws in position, so you need not bother about waking up with an open mouth.

  • Loosen the strips of the chin strap first up
  • Place the thumb around a half-inch away from the strip, rip it, then take off the thumb and place the strip there.
  • If you are male, you need not bother about strands of hair getting tangled up with the straps. For girls, this may be a concern. If so, it’s better to wrap a piece of cotton around the top portion of the chin strap and wear it.

The apnea chin strap is meant to hold the jaws in a firm resting position, and not necessarily to clamp the jaws to make the mouth closed fully. If the one you own is not a one-size-fits-all chin strap, try alternate positions in order see which one works best to clear mouth breathing. Some apnea patients use elastic bandages to alleviate apnea and its associated symptoms, but the benefit of the chin strap is that you need not retrofit it every night.

How to Alleviate Dry Mouth Due to an Open Mouth

Apnea Chin Strap

Problems Due To Snoring

Dry mouth leads to nasal congestions, whereas a dry throat induces a sore throat in an apnea patient. Dry mouth often occurs due to the sleep posture of the patient and the position of the mouth and tongue to be precise. If you sleep slack-jawed with mouth open, chances are that you may wake up with a dry mouth feeling thirsty or gasping for air. That is one of the reasons, why many sleep apnea patients keep a glass of water by the bedside to tackle the symptom. However, waking up frequently for water would disrupt the sleep pattern.

Remedy for Dry Mouth with Apnea Chin Strap

You can use an apnea chin strap to keep the mouth closed throughout the sleep and avoid the chances of dry mouth in the morning. Even if you roll on the bed during sleep, the airtight seal would keep the mouth closed in turn providing a better flow of air and a peaceful sleep.

Improving Tongue Position

Many people abandon CPAP therapy since dry mouth can be caused by air leaks from the oxygen mask worn in Continuous Positive Airway Therapy. Practice how to keep the tongue pressed to the surface of the mouth. Try to seal the lips prior to sleep, make a small suction inside the mouth, and push the tongue forward against the teeth and surface of the mouth. This sleep posture would hold the tongue firmly in position and would help prevent dry mouth during sleep.

Eliminating the Underlying Cause

You should understand why you are breathing through the mouth. It could be due to a blockage in the nasal cavity like congestions or even a deviated septum. If you are experiencing dry throat alongside a stuffy nose, you might need to discuss the same with the sleep specialist. The CPAP therapy may be tough for you especially if you are facing breathing difficulties due to nasal congestion.

Your doctor may suggest you to use a heated humidifier alongside the CPAP mask and recommend keeping the heat settings to a certain level in that case. Oftentimes, the tubing may become condensed but using the humidifier can potentially eliminate that by adding moisture and warmth to the air.

Relation between Snoring and Sex

Apnea Chin Strap

Snoring Related Problems

As per the latest studies, snoring not only disrupts sleep, but also the happiness of people. A new Ipsos-Reid survey found that at least fifty-eight percent of married residents of Ontario complain about the snoring problems of their partner. Many of the participants of the survey also admitted that the loud snoring of their partner has an impact on their sex life. Thirty-six percent of the participants agreed to the statement “On most nights I would rather share my bed with a good sleeper who doesn’t snore than a good lover who will keep me up with their snoring.”

Sue Johanson, who is a sex therapist said “The next morning she gets up she’s cranky … and of course he can’t understand what it’s all about. And then the relationship starts to disintegrate. Then, of course, she gets thoroughly P.O.’d, so she decides to migrate to the sofa, or push comes to shove, she boots him out to the sofa.”

There can be many reasons for your partner to make those sounds while sleeping and sleep apnea is one of the most serious causes that you need to watch out for. “Most snorers I think should have a sleep study,” says ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Everton Gooden. “It’s the only way that we can reliably diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.” So you might be probably wondering what to do if your partner snores at night? The answer is simple you can make use of an Apnea chin strap to control snoring caused by sleep apnea.

Snoring and Libido

Health experts say that the quality of sleep can affect your sex life and that sleep quality and sex life are correlated. Latest studies in this field conclude that lack of sleep can affect the libido of a person. This is because the decrease in energy level due to lack of quality sleep can lead to stress and tension, which will not allow the person to relax. We all know that a relaxed mind is inevitable to have good sex.

Your snoring will not only affect your sleep but also the sleep of your partner. You will be fatigued all the time and your sex life will not be smoother or happier. In addition, side effects of low energy like anxiety, malaise, and crankiness can lead to issues in relationships and low sex drive. Chronic sleep conditions like sleep apnea can negatively affect the ability of the body to produce testosterone, which is the sex hormone. When the body gets a good night’s sleep the level of testosterone will rise naturally to help you sustain a good libido. Therefore, it is important to stop snoring to have a healthy.

How Nasal Cones can Help to Cure Snoring

Apnea Chin Strap

Using Nasal Cones

Besides making it difficult to breathe, snoring is known to cause a range of adverse effects to the patient. If left untreated, it can become much complicated; thereby causing several issues in some of the major systems of the body such as cardiac system and respiratory systems. Curing snoring is thereby of utmost importance if you suffer from it.

As a treatment option, most of your doctors and specialists may have recommended the use of snoring devices like mouthpieces. They are highly effective, but there are also many other alternatives that you can try such as nasal cones.

What are Nasal Cones?

Nasal cones are devices that can help you to get relief from snoring. Shaped like cones, they can be inserted in each of your nostrils, and they are mostly used by people who snore due to congested or filled nasal cavities. As such issues result in the inadequate air intake, the primary function of nasal cones is to keep the nasal passages open, and thus, provide an easier flow of air.

As the cones are inserted into the nostril, they will provide support that prevents them from collapsing and thus causing snoring. So if you suffer from nose snoring, then it is best to use nasal cones. In fact, combining them with snoring devices such as mouth guards will guarantee you the best results and permanently cure your snoring.

Benefits of Nasal Cones

The effectiveness of curing snoring by using nasal cones has been validated by numerous clinical research and trials. One of their main benefits is that they can significantly improve the airflow into the nasal cavity. Nasal cones are considered far more efficient in preventing snoring than nasal strips. Due to this, it is a better alternative if you suffer from nose snoring.

Nasal cones are available in three different sizes – small, medium, and large. Due to their availability in different sizes, nasal cones are good for all kinds of individuals. You can select the size that fits rightly into your nostrils and this prevents them from falling off while asleep. Note that choosing the correct size of nasal cones is important if you wish to enjoy the maximum benefits from using it.

When purchasing a snore pin or nasal cone, you should consider whether they are soft or have additional support features. If you suffer from a deviated septum, dry mouth, or sleep apnea, it is better to use a soft nasal cone. For nasal and sinus congestion or allergies and colds, a nasal cone that offers additional support is preferred.

5 Herbal Remedies to Stop Snoring

Apnea Chin Strap

Herbal Remedies For Snoring

No one likes to cuddle up right next to someone who snores loudly all night. However, you can’t just leave them alone and let them suffer. The best and wisest thing you could in this situation is to introduce them to reliable and efficient snoring devices such as an anti snoring mouthpiece.

This type of anti snoring device will easily help your loved ones to cut down or eliminate snoring. They are also highly comfortable, which means that you will not experience any sort of pain or any other issues when you are using the device. In addition to that, you could also advise them to try these few herbal remedies, as these help to fight snoring effectively.

Peppermint

Peppermint, which is an easy to find herb, is immensely popular among snorers due to its incredible mentholated properties. This attribute of peppermint opens the airways of the snorers and allow them to enjoy a good night’s sleep without any snoring issues. Try to chew more than a few peppermint herbs every day for better results.

Spearmint

Another useful herb that will help you to reduce or stop snoring is spearmint. This wonderful herb is also famous for helping people to sleep quietly throughout the entire night. Another added advantage is that spearmint can be used in plenty of recipes, which means that you can easily incorporate them into your daily diet. You can also eat them directly if you want.

Cayenne Pepper

It is a widely known and proven fact that the intake of spicy food items can effectively open up our nasal passages. This is why our noses run when we eat these items. Including food items that are garnished with cayenne paper can also help you to stop snoring to a certain extent. Nevertheless, make sure these spicy food items are not causing other problems like heartburn or indigestion.

Sage

Sage is a very useful herb, which is an excellent choice for the ones who suffer from nighttime indigestion problems (a common cause of snoring). Sprinkling a small quantity of sage on food items will help you to significantly reduce snoring. If you don’t like to sprinkle it on food, then all you have to do is to simply smell it.

Asthma Weed

It is true that asthma weed is not a commonly used herb but it is very helpful in fighting snoring and the causes behind it. Those with tonsillitis, asthma, diphtheria, and epilepsy commonly use this herb.

Causes of Snoring and the Precautions to Take

As a common condition, snoring may affect not necessarily a sleep apnea patient alone but anyone. Loud snoring may not be a symptom of sleeping disorders always, but certainly bothers the snorer’s bedfellow and disrupts the sleeping patterns of both. For habitual snorers, to get a good night sleep in bed means to undergo CPAP and use anti snoring devices as per the sleep specialists advice.

Causes of Snoring

Sleep specialists in America say that snoring tends to exist among people who are overweight or beyond their forties. It is also found that loud snoring in men may be an early symptom of sleep apnea. People snore when the airflow through the throat or nose gets hindered, due to the below-listed factors or the combinations of it:

  • A sinus infection or due to nasal allergy
  • Nasal septum deviation
  • Nasal polyps
  • Excess usage of sleeping pills, or alcoholism

In children, occasional snoring may come as an aftereffect of tonsillitis or adenoiditis. In adults, being overweight may cause bulky throat tissue that blocks free airflow and leads to loud snoring.

Health Risks of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Habitual snorers and alcoholics tend to border on the verge of serious health hazards including Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Patients who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea tend to sleepwalk, experience hallucinations, and are seen to become mentally and physically weary. This sleep disorder can even cause blood pressure to rise up, lead to heart enlargements, and increase the risks of stroke.

Both snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea may cause drowsiness during the daytime. What’s more, if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you may also face cessation in breathing during sleep for ten seconds due to partial or total hindering of the airflow into the lungs. In such cases, you would wake up from the bed and gasp for air.

Snoredoc sleep apnea chin strap helps to stop snoring and is both an anti snoring device as well as an apnea cure. Using apnea chin strap anti snoring device would definitely improve the quality of your life, but make sure you consult with a sleep specialist before you go for any anti snoring remedies.