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The Relationship between Snoring and Dementia

September 6, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

Chin Strap For Snoring

Snoring And Dementia

Snoring can be defined as “the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping”. It has become one of the common issues among the people of the United States. In fact, a recent study revealed that one out of every four person in the US snores on a regular basis, and most of those snorers are prone to sleep disorders like sleep apnea. The potential risks of other health issues due to snoring cannot be disregarded either.

Snoring and Dementia

Dementia is a medical term that is used to indicate memory loss and other mental impairments, which will affect the ability of a person to lead a normal life. Studies say that around 75% of dementia patients suffer from Alzheimer’s disease; yet another common type of dementia is Vascular Dementia and it occurs if a person encounters a sudden stroke.

An important thing that you must note here is that there are certain health disorders like vitamin deficiency, thyroid, etc., exhibit almost the same symptoms as that of dementia. Hence, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately if you encountered any memory related issues, and do not simply assume that snoring is the reason behind the problem.

The Relationship between Snoring and Dementia

Dementia or memory loss is one amongst the long-term after effects of snoring. In fact, many recent studies claim that snoring or sleep apnea is linked to the early stage of long-term memory loss and dementia. In case of a person suffering from sleep apnea, he/she may wake up more than a hundred times while sleeping because of lack of breath. This is because of the inefficiency of your body to deliver oxygen to the brain.

As a result, the blood flow to the brain will become low, in turn lowering the level of oxygen. This irregular delivery of oxygen and blood to the brain may trigger memory loss, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and all in a person.

It is advisable to use anti snoring devices like mouth guards, chinstrap for snoring, etc., to tackle the snoring problem. For a person suffering from advanced stage of sleep apnea, a CPAP machine will be the best option. However, it is recommended to consult a physician before choosing any kind of sleeping aids; a good doctor will suggest treatment methods that ensure proper oxygen and blood supply to the brain in order to rule out the chances of dementia in future.

You can also try some simple remedies like essential oils, yoga, exercises, etc., at home to curb the intensity of the health issue. Ultimately, the key point is to treat sleep apnea in an early stage in order to prevent memory loss or dementia in future.

Why Obese People Snore and How it Can Be Controlled

July 20, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Weight Loss And Snoring

When the lower jaw relaxes during sleep, it causes a block in the upper airway, and when the inhaled air rushes past the constricted airway, it vibrates the soft tissues in the mouth leading to the snoring sound. There are many ways to alleviate snoring, but the most popular one is by advancing the lower jaw or mandible forward for a free flow of air. However, medical practitioners also recommend one to make changes in lifestyle along with the use of anti snoring devices for better relief.

Being overweight is closely linked to snoring since that causes excess fat deposits around the neck, which makes the tongue to recede back towards the throat. That can apply pressure to the airway’s lining. When one gains weight over time, the tissues in the upper throat becomes softer. This makes the tissues in the mouth to sag when sleeping on the back, leading to the snoring issues.

Since excessive fat applies pressure against the lining, the airway becomes narrower and blocks free flow of air. Further, the excess weight makes the chest heavier and that makes the inhalation process much harder too. So the recommended changes in lifestyle can include substantial adjustments to the diet and exercises to reduce weight in due course.

Studies say that obese people breathe deeply since lungs expand to make room for the airflow; even the diaphragm is pushed down to provide the lungs sufficient space for the expansion. When the diaphragm contracts though, it pushes against the abdomen and other adjacent organs. Briefly, this means that the fat body has to struggle for inhalation and that leads to deep breathing and louder snoring.

How Weight Loss Helps Reduce Snoring

Usually, weight tends to build up around the abdominal organs in obese people. When they lose weight, the accumulated fat goes away. That makes inhalation easier since the diaphragm does not have to make way for the lungs to expand. This, in turn, means that the body will not have to work hard to take in the air and get oxygen to the lungs.

Weight loss also reduces neck’s circumference. Henceforth, the pressure in the airways will be less, the vibration will be alleviated, and that will reduce loud snoring at night. Consult a dietician to know what all to include in your diet for a quick and healthy weight loss, as well as learn about the physical workouts to get rid of the excessive weight you are troubled with.

Top 5 Natural Remedies for a Good Night’s Sleep

July 16, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

Snoring Remedies

Snoring Related Issues

Snoring is medically defined as the “vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping”. In most cases, it will be loud and horrible and can be an indicator of other health issues. Yet, many people overlook the snoring problem, mostly out of embarrassment. According to a recent study, around 60% of people in the world suffer from snoring, but only a few people out of this pursue medical treatment for the condition.

It is a given that good night’s sleep is really essential for your physical and mental well being. However, snoring issues prevent you from getting a peaceful sleep, and you might not even know of it. Apparently, when your sleep is disturbed, it will take a toll on your energy, efficiency, mood, productivity, and even on your ability to handle stress. So, it is recommended to consult a doctor if you are experiencing any sleep related issues, be it snoring or other conditions.

Health care providers usually suggest using anti snoring devices in order to tackle the problem. Along with this, you can also include some home remedies to stop snoring and enjoy a good night’s sleep. Below are the top 5 natural remedies you can try.

Oil Massage

Many studies have proven that a good body massage or head massage can help you sleep well. If you use mustard oil or coconut oil to massage your body, your body muscles will relax and help you fall in sleep within minutes. Additionally, it will increase the blood circulation in the muscles in order to calm your nerves.

You just need to warm the oil slightly, rub it on your head, shoulders, back, neck, and bottom of your feet, and gently massage in circular motions for around ten to twenty minutes.

Epsom Salt Bath

Taking an Epsom salt bath one or two hours before bedtime is one of the best ways to enjoy a sound sleep. According to naturopathic practitioners, the magnesium content in Epsom salt will contribute to calm your nerves and relax your muscles.

To take an Epsom bath, all you have to do is to add one and a half cup of Epsom salt to your bathing tub and let it dissolve completely. Soak yourself in the water for around half an hour and enjoy a peaceful sleep.

Chamomile and Valerian

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Natural Snoring Remedies

These are the most commonly used herbal species to induce sleep in people. When it comes to Chamomile, it is ideal for treating sleep disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia. Other than that, it is suitable for healing muscle spasms, period pain, stomachaches, etc., that are likely to keep you from enjoying a good sleep. So, it is recommended to consume a cup of Chamomile tea one hour before bedtime. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon in case you do not like the taste of Chamomile.

Valerian is a tall flowering grassland plant that is famous for inducing deep sleep in people. It has a soothing and muscle-relaxing property that in turn promotes better blood circulation in the body. In fact, several studies prove that Valerian is perfect for improving the quality of sleep as well.

Warm Milk

The relaxing effect of warm milk on the body and mind of a person is well known since ages, and hence, most people consume it before going to bed. The reason for this is the abundance of calcium in milk that controls the production of melatonin hormone.

It is to be noted that melatonin plays a key role in regulating the sleep of a person, whereas calcium is a great remedy to alleviate stress. In order to boost up the taste, you can add some honey and cinnamon in your milk as well. However, make sure to drink the milk at least one hour before you go to sleep.

Lavender Oil

There will be hardly anyone, who does not enjoy the soothing aroma of lavenders. Lavender oil is popular for having a calming effect on people, which in turn induces sleep. In fact, naturopathic practitioners claim that lavender oil can increase the sleep duration of a person, which is ideal to wake up the next day with a refreshing mind.

Simply apply two to three drops of lavender oil to your handkerchief or a towel and keep it under your pillow for a good night’s sleep. You can also take an aromatic bath by adding a few drops of lavender oil to your bathing water. Make sure to soak yourselves in it at least for thirty minutes. Else, rub your feet and earlobes with a mixture of lavender oil and olive oil before going to bed.

How are Sinusitis and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Related?

July 11, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Snoring Related Issues

Prior to getting into the link between sinusitis as well as sleep apnea, it is important to get an understanding of what sinusitis is and how it affects the human body. In simple terms, sinusitis can be defined as the swelling of sinus cavities, nose, and cheeks. In the sinuses that are healthy, a thin layer of mucous and small hairs known as cilia line the surfaces, which helps to both trap as well as push pollutants and bacteria, and eventually drains through the small openings to the nasal cavity.

If your sinuses are healthy, the mucus formed in the sinuses will get cleared every ten minutes. However, when mucus production turns excess disrupting its normal clearing from the nose, it builds up and leads to swelling in the nose, and thereby sinusitis. People with the sinus infection experience several symptoms, comprising headache, sinus pressure, facial pain, as well as fatigue. It is considered chronic when one case of sinusitis lasts 6 weeks or more and even if a person develops the condition over 4 times in a year.

Besides the symptoms experienced during the day, chronic sinusitis also affects the sleeping patterns of the patient, and that brings us to Obstructive Sleep Apnea – what it is and in which way it is related to sinusitis.

Sinusitis and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

People who snore frequently tend to be Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients too, as loud snoring is one of its symptoms. In fact, it is the main symptom of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterized by loud snoring during sleep. Precisely, Obstructive Sleep Apnea is categorized as a sleep-disordered breathing condition. When the soft tissues in the mouth relax during sleep, it then causes partial blockages in the upper airway and induces the snoring sound.

Apart from that, Obstructive Sleep Apnea also causes the person to momentarily wake up gasping for breath. The pattern of gasping for breath can last from a few seconds to even an hour, occurring intermittently, in sleep. Its severity depends on the breathing obstruction or pattern.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be mild to moderate or even severe. If it is not serious with snoring remaining loud during sleep, you can seek anti snoring devices to advance the lower jaw and get a free flow of air. This is because the snoring sound is produced when the air rushes past the blocked airway and vibrates the soft tissues in the throat.

There are several factors, that play into the development of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and nasal and sinus issues are an element in that. Apparently, a breathing obstruction can also occur due to sinusitis. When sinus cavities cause draining difficulties, leading to chronic or intermittent sinusitis, it could be the sign of an underlying anatomical problem. The same nasal issue could be causing the partial or full blockages in the airway and in turn leading to the sleep-disordered breathing.

How Sleep Apnea Leads to Ear Problems

June 27, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Snoring Related Issues

If you are an Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) patient, then there is a high chance that you may have an ear problem too. A person having no sleep disorder may have ear related issues caused due to cold or allergy only for few days. However, if they have the condition of OSA, the inflammation in ears can last for many weeks or even months. This is because the inflammation in the throat or nose may cause swelling, which can increase obstructions leading to the stomach juices moving up the throat or nose, including Eustachian tube area in the ear.

Inflammation in the nose and ear can be caused due to many reasons like allergies, viral colds, acid reflux, and weather changes. A simple allergy or cold can affect your ear as well. In most cases, you may only experience two or three days of discomfort. However, in some situations, ears may get stuffed for weeks. The vacuum pressure thus created may cause fluids to accumulate in there, thereby giving rise to serous otitis media. This can then lead to a bacterial infection.

In addition, frequent arousals and obstructions in sleep during the nighttime may lead to an imbalance in the involuntary nervous system in which the nose becomes very sensitive to weather changes. This is known as chronic rhinitis. It is even seen that people who use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device to deal with OSA may get air blown into middle ears by means of pressure. This issue is quite a frustrating one and difficult to completely cure.

How to Treat the Condition

If you have sleep apnea and experiencing issues in the ear, first make sure to treat the OSA problem properly. When the CPAP pressure is very low or if the mouthpiece is not calibrated properly, you may have frequent arousals and disruptions in sleep. So make sure that your health care provider sees to it that there are no such issues.

If you have a chronic stuffy nose, there is a chance that may create a downstream vacuum effect that allows your tongue to fall back often while deep sleeping due to the relaxation of muscles. Due to this, nasal passageways can be either inflamed, narrow, or both, so check that your nasal breathing is not obstructed.

Moreover, make sure not to eat three to four hours before bedtime so that the inflammation is lowered. Two to three apnea episodes per hour is common in OSA patients, and that is enough to suction up stomach juices to your throat. Therefore, you need keep the juice and acidity volume as low as possible.

About Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

June 25, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Snoring Related Issues

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) is a medical condition that affects the mental health of a person after the occurrence of an unfortunate incident. For instance, consider rape, assault, witnessing gory accidents, murder, serious injury, threats of death, etc. People suffering from PTSD must be treated as soon as possible as they tend to show suicidal tendency as well in extreme cases.

A health care expert usually analyzes the symptoms exhibited by the person in order to confirm the disorder. Some of the red flags that you can see in victims of PTSD include:

  • Recurring flashbacks of a traumatic incident
  • Frequent wake ups from sleep
  • Numbing a hurtful memory
  • Irritability and moodiness
  • Lack of concentration

It is quite common for such symptoms to occur in people who faced any traumatic incident and it will diminish with time. In case it prevails for more than a month, the person is more likely to suffer from PTSD. According to a recent study, prisoners who are subjected to harsh treatments will be victims of PTSD in most cases.

How PTSD Can Lead to OSA

PSTD patients are prone to sleep disorders that include nightmares, excessive sleepiness or lack of sleep, recurrent dreams, etc. It is even reported that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common disorder in patients who are suffering from the advanced stage of PSTD.

As per a recent study, OSA is detected in more than 70% of people who are diagnosed with PSTD. Hence, it is appropriate to take PSTD patients to a health care provider and assess for OSA before taking additional medications for their sleep-related issues. In case a person fails to get effective treatment for OSA, it will negatively affect the treatment and recovery process for PSTD as well.

OSA or is sleeping disorder in which the throat muscles of an affected person relax intermittently and block the airway. As a result, the patient will experience a lack of breath during sleep and wake up with a gasp. Using anti snoring devices help to tackle the sleep disorder to a great extent, as such devices move the jaw forward during sleep to keep the airway open and allow uninterrupted breathing.

Commonly, a CPAP machine is used to alleviate the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. However, people with PSTD do not respond to a CPAP therapy that well. This will make it even challenging to treat people who are victims of both OSA and PTSD. Consulting with a health care provider is the best line of defence against the health issues.

Common Types of Intrinsic Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

June 14, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Types Of Sleeping Disorders

Circadian rhythm cycle is actually the biological clock in one’s body that controls the sleep and wakefulness period of a person. Any disruption to the circadian rhythm can result in various sleeping disorders that may ultimately result in snoring and sleep apnea or other serious health issues. In some cases, it can happen the other way round as well. That is, snoring can lead to circadian rhythm sleep disorders and other health problems. In such cases, you can use any of the snoring devices recommended by a physician to alleviate it.

Categories of Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

Intrinsic and extrinsic disorders are two types of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. The former one is actually an internal health condition, in which the biological clock of a person is different from that of others. In this case, the person may either go to sleep way too early or late when compared to others. This will get worse every other day.

In case of the latter, it is circumstantial. That is, external factors like darkness, light, stress related to family, job, work, etc. Similarly, uncommon working schedules or snoring issues can also contribute to this. Below are some of the common intrinsic circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)

In this disorder, the affected person feels exhausted at later hours when compared to others, which makes him/her stay awake throughout the night. As a result, the person will wake up late in the morning. In such patients, the melatonin production will occur at least two or more hours later, which keeps them awake at night. Furthermore, along with a delayed production, the melatonin hardly lasts the same amount of time as in normal people, making it hard for the affected persons to wake up early.

Note that teenagers and young adults are mainly prone to DSPS and this may reflect in their academic performance as well. People suffering from DSPS often encounter other disorders such as depression, excessive daytime sleepiness, late night insomnia, regular snoring, etc.

Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS)

In this case, the affected person will start feeling sleepy earlier in the evening making him/her sleep earlier than others, which is just the opposite of DSPS. However, the melatonin production is same as that of DSPS patients. Still, the sufferers tend to wake up two hours earlier in this case.

In some cases of ASPS, the patients will wake up two hours late. Here, the side effects include early morning insomnia, depression, insufficient sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, etc. It is noted that ASPS is commonly seen in elderly people, where as only 1% of young adults are diagnosed with the sleep disorder.

An Ultimate Guide to Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

June 12, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Snoring Related Issues

Snoring is one of the most common health issues these days. Fortunately, there are many snoring devices available now, with which you can stop snoring up to a great extent. Note that snoring can also lead to various other sleep disorders. For instance, interruption of circadian rhythm is one of the major sleeping disorders that can be triggered by heavy snoring. Below are some in-depth details about circadian rhythm and related health issues.

What is Circadian Rhythm?

Circadian rhythm is a biological clock in your body that controls the timing that a body needs to rest and be energetic; that is, the sleep and wakefulness cycles. The main factor that contributes to this is the presence and absence of natural light in a day.

A circadian rhythm cycle mainly functions by means of the hypothalamus. Here, there is a group of cells known as Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) that is connected to the optic nerve of a person. This will help the biological clock to detect the presence and absence of light. Apart from this, SCN also plays a crucial role in controlling most of the body function such as heart rate, body temperature, hormones, etc.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

There are mainly two types of sleeping disorders related to circadian rhythm, intrinsic and extrinsic. The former one is present in one’s body by default, whereas the latter one is circumstantial. In case of intrinsic disorders, the sleep cycle will be entirely different from that of others. The main reasons for this can be the early or late sleeping and wake-up timings.

In case of extrinsic sleep disorders, the factors may depend on the circumstances, such as job, light, pressure, travel, etc., which are the common things that disrupt the sleep of a person. Some of the most common circadian rhythm sleep disorders include:

  • Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)
  • Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome
  • Non-24-Hour-Sleep-Wake Syndrome
  • Jet Lag
  • Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm
  • Shift-Work Sleep Disorder

The Treatment

Behavioral therapy is one of the non-surgical treatment methods used to cure circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Here, a patient will have to maintain regular timing for sleep and arousals, avoid taking naps during morning time and nicotine or caffeine before bedtime, reduce the use of electronic gadgets, must do exercises regularly, etc.

Another treatment method is the Bright Light Therapy. Here, a light box that emits high-intensity light is used to delay or advance the bedtime of a person. For this, the patient will have to sit under the light box for a set time depending on the intensity of the sleeping disorder.

Apart from these, certain medications such as melatonin can also be used to regulate the sleep cycles. Yet if snoring is the only thing that is disturbing your sleep cycle, the usage of appropriate snoring devices is recommended to counter the health issue.

Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea That are Rarely Recognized

May 25, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Sleep Apnea Signs

Snoring is defined as the vibration of respiratory structures and the resultant sound due to a restricted air movement during breathing while sleeping. In most cases, people snore while sleeping and it is absolutely normal. However, you have to take care if it becomes unpleasant and louder, as it can be the sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

According to a recent study, around one out of every 15 people in the United States suffers from sleep apnea. In case of the sleep disorder, the patient will wake up multiple times while sleeping due to a short of breath. This is because of an insufficient oxygen supply to the brain as well as the rest of the body.

Note that if left untreated, sleep apnea can be fatal. One of the common solutions to stop snoring and sleep apnea is by the use of anti snoring devices such as apnea chin strap, stop snoring pillows, CPAP machine, etc. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor before using any such remedies, because using the wrong anti snoring solution may even worsen the situation.

Doctors usually decide the treatment methods based on the symptoms, and hence, it may vary in individuals. Some of the lesser-known symptoms of sleep apnea are given below; if you have any of these symptoms, make sure to take adequate treatment as soon as possible.

A Morning Headache

Most people suffer from a morning headache because of various reasons, so they often overlook it. However, morning headache can also be a symptom of sleep apnea. It is reported that approximately 75% of people who are suffering from sleep apnea wake up with a headache. Similarly, people with morning headaches are two to eight times more likely to experience sleep issues.

Dry Mouth

Snoring mainly occurs when the soft tissues and muscles in the mouth relax and interrupt normal breathing. A dry mouth is common in all snorers, especially if they breathe with their mouth open. In case of sleep apnea, the patient is two times more likely to experience a dry mouth in comparison to normal snoring episodes.

Nocturia

Nocturia is the tendency to urinate frequently at night; this can be awful for most of the sleep apnea victims. When people wake up because of short of breath as a result of the apnea episode, the brain will send inapt information to the body. To tackle this, the heart usually excretes a protein that tends the body to eliminate sodium and water from its system, which is to urinate.

Sleep Apnea Linked to Fatty Liver, New Studies Suggest

February 27, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Sleep Apnea And Fatty Liver

New studies have revealed a strong link between obstructive sleep apnea and fatty liver disease. The studies have found out that people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea tend to experience various liver diseases, mainly fatty liver. Both sleep apnea and the fatty liver disease affects a majority of the population in the country. Due to this, the occurrence of these two conditions and their relation has become widespread amongst the population.

It was only recently that researchers found an underlying link existing between sleep apnea and fatty liver disease. In the study, the researchers took a sample of obese individuals who also had sleep apnea. The studies based on this sample then confirmed that many of the individuals with sleep apnea had developed fatty liver disease. It also brought out that the severity of fatty liver disease increased with that of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea had already been linked to various diseases and conditions that affect different body systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory system, etc. According to the latest studies, sleep apnea also results in the development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in an individual.

What is Fatty Liver?

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) refers to the accumulation of fat deposits in the liver among those who consume little or never drink alcohol. Complications that occur in the disease can cause the liver to inflame and scar, which then leads to the development of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Fatty liver that progresses to Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis can result in serious complications such as liver cancer, liver fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis.

Sleep Apnea and Fatty Liver

Researchers are trying to identify exactly how sleep apnea worsens fatty liver disease in an individual. However, they have pinpointed one way in which sleep apnea causes fatty liver. When sleep apnea occurs, it can severely reduce the oxygen levels that enter into the blood. The low level of oxygen in the blood can cause oxidative stress that directly affects the functioning of the liver thus worsening liver diseases.

Moreover, other studies have also confirmed that sleep apnea causes fatty liver in young children. This study published in the Journal of Pediatrics has found out a solid relationship between sleep apnea and fatty liver disease for about 60 percent of the children.

One way of treating the development of fatty liver is by alleviating Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the individual. There are various snoring solutions available out there, which can help to prevent sleep apnea and limit its effects on health. Regular usage of such anti snoring devices can permanently eliminate sleep apnea and in turn allow the liver to continue its normal functioning.