April 2018

Why Do Apnea Patients with CPAP Intolerance Choose Oral Appliances?

April 30, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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CPAP Therapy And Sleep Apnea

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is commonly used as a treatment option for people diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The therapy involves using a CPAP machine, which pumps slightly pressurized air into the nasal airways via an elongated hose hooked to a face mask worn, while the person is asleep. This contraption is used to hold open the OSA patient’s upper airway, and prevent breathing difficulties which may last from a few seconds to a full hour.

While CPAP is a tried-and-tested method for treating sleep apnea, many people face hardships in sticking with the therapy. Most medical professionals term the difficulty to comply with it as CPAP intolerance. Often, the noise coming from the bulky CPAP machine, causing disturbance to apnea patients and bedmates, is found to be the main reason for intolerance, which leads to the failure of CPAP therapy. However, there are several other reasons for CPAP intolerance, including:

  • Air leaks in the face mask, which cause a dry mouth in the morning;
  • The person being allergic to the material of the oxygen mask used in CPAP, which often tends to be made up of latex;
  • Uncomfortable headgear and straps; and
  • Limited mobility during sleep, due to the contraption or the CPAP machine, and other connections.

If you feel that you cannot comply with the CPAP, it is advisable to look for alternative treatments for mild to moderate apnea, such as oral appliance therapy. In fact, oral appliance therapy may also serve as a remedy for loud snoring, even if you find it tough to get used to positional therapy. For instance, if you find it tough to change from a supine or prone position to a side-sleeping one on the bed – it’s best to wear an oral appliance used to treat mild to moderate OSA.

Side sleeping is suggested in positional therapy for treating apnea; most people do find comfort in opening the upper airway using a snoring remedy, but not all feel the same way. In fact, an oral appliance such as a sleep apnea mouth guard is considered as a noninvasive treatment for OSA. Such snoring mouthpieces do not cause any side effects, and work as per the same principle – of clearing the obstructions in the upper throat. Once worn, it advances the lower jaw and ensures free flow of air.

7 Easy Remedies to Stop Snoring

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

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Easy Snoring Remedies

Snoring is caused due to the obstruction in the air movement while breathing during sleep. Snoring is a serious issue, not only because it disturbs others’ sleep, but also because the people who snore may suffer from other serious health conditions such as sleep apnea and heart diseases. Apart from using snore guard and other snoring aids to deal with the problem, given below are some home remedies that may help you to stop snoring.

Lose Weight

Weight loss can help obese people to stop snoring to some extent. Besides, if you have gained weight in the recent past, and that is when you started snoring, then weight loss may be effective. When you gain weight around the neck, it will squeeze the inner diameter of the throat, which may trigger snoring.

Change your Sleep Position

Avoid sleeping on your back; sleeping on your side is known to be effective in preventing snoring. Using a full-length pillow will be an easy option, as it enables you to maintain sleeping on your side. Yet another alternative is to recline your bed with the head up.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

Having poor sleeping habits can also trigger snoring. If you work for too long hours without having enough sleep, you become overtired, which makes you sleep deep and hard. This is when the muscles in the throat and back of the mouth become floppier and lead to snoring issues.

Avoid Alcohol

Usage of alcohol and other sedatives may reduce the resting tone of the muscles present on the back of your throat and you are more likely to snore. It is said that people who do not snore normally, start snoring after consuming alcohol.

Change your Pillows

Allergic reactions may occur due to the presence of dust mites accumulated in your pillows and this leads to snoring. If you allow your pets to sleep on your bed, it causes you to breathe in animal dander, which is another common irritant that leads to breathing issues.

Stay Hydrated

If you are dehydrated, the secretions in your nose become stickier and this creates more snoring. Women should have around 11 cups of water per day, while men need to drink about 16 cups. Apparently, drinking plenty of fluids is very necessary not only to fight snoring but also to stay healthy.

Keep the Nasal Passages Open

When you have a cold, your nose will be clogged and narrowed. The narrower the path is, the faster the air you breathe moves in, and most likely cause snoring. Taking a hot shower before going to bed or rinsing your nose with salt water would help you to keep the nasal passage clear. Using nasal strips is another alternative.

Complications Related to Sleep Apnea

April 24, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Sleep Apnea Related Complications

Sleep apnea is a serious health disorder where breathing repeatedly stops for a while when the person is asleep. The main symptoms of this disorder are loud snoring, abrupt awakening, morning headache, insomnia, hypersomnia, irritability, and sore throat. There are three main types of sleep apnea: Central Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and Complex Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax; Central Sleep Apnea occurs when the brain does not send information to the muscles, which control breathing; while Complex Sleep Apnea happens when someone has both the apnea mentioned above. Given below are the complications you may experience if you have sleep apnea.

Fatigue

People having sleep apnea may experience daytime fatigue, irritability, and drowsiness because of repeatedly awakening from sleep. One may find difficult to concentrate or may fall asleep while working, watching TV, or even while driving.

Surgery Complications

After major surgery, people with sleep apnea may be more prone to breathing problems when they are sedated and lying on their backs. So it is advised to notify the doctor about the problem before surgery.

Metabolic Syndrome

Sleep apnea patients may experience some metabolic syndromes like high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol, high blood pressure, and an increased waist circumference.

Liver Problems

For those who have sleep apnea, it is likely that they may have abnormal results on liver function tests, and their livers might show signs of scarring as well. This condition is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop in people who have sleep apnea when compared to those who do not have the sleep disorder.

Heart Problems

Due to a sudden drop in blood oxygen level during sleep apnea, blood pressure increases and causes strain in the cardiovascular system. This means that the risk of stroke is high for those having Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Behavioral Disorder

Sleep apnea may result in a decrease in concentration, vigilance, attention, visuospatial and verbal memory, and even lead to dementia in older people. Children diagnosed with sleep issues may also experience learning disabilities.

Stroke

Stroke in patients having sleep apnea is said to occur mostly between 06:00 am and 08:00 am, as it is the time when a person wakes up normally. A deprived sleep may be the reason for that.

Obesity

Obesity leads to narrowing and sporadic obstruction of the airways, which in turn, worsens snoring and sleep apnea. Excessive weight gain also leads to overstretching of the diaphragm or less contractility of chest wall muscles, which all further complicate the health issue.

How the Biology of Women Contribute to Sleep Disorders

April 20, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Sleep Disorders In Women

A good night’s sleep is necessary for both men and women in order to feel comfortable and energetic throughout the following day. According to studies in the field, the quality of sleep is more likely to be poor in women when compared to men. This is because of their hormonal structure, genes, and some other biological factors. Hence, it is quite common if a woman complained about her sleep quality or morning tiredness more often when compared to men.

Two of the main reasons for this difference in the sleep quality for women are the unique physical changes during their menstrual cycle and pregnancy. During the menstrual period, women experience various hormonal changes in their body throughout the month. These changes can contribute to the poor sleep cycle in women, which may eventually lead to health issues such as snoring and sleep apnea.

Sleep Disorders and Menstrual Cycle

The changes that happen in the body of a woman during the menstrual cycle can have a huge impact on her sleep quality as well as the quantity. According to the reports of the National Sleep Foundation, half of the women who encounter sleep disorders are going through their menstruation period. Usually, the sleep of women is disrupted mainly during the first three days of the menstrual cycle. As a result, most women snore more during these initial days of their periods.

Impact of Hormones on the Sleep Cycle

Around the menstrual cycle, the hormone levels in the body of women may rise or fall, which in turn, can affect their sleep cycle. The hormone called estrogen is associated with the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage or deep sleep phase, so a fluctuation in the estrogen levels can disrupt proper sleep. On the other hand, the hormone called progesterone that is linked to ovulation may cause excessive sleepiness and fatigue. There are also many other hormones that cause mood swings in women during their menstrual periods that eventually affect the sleep quality.

Hormones and Sleep Disordered Breathing in Women

The fluctuating hormone level in the body of the women is linked with SDB (Sleep Disordered Breathing) that cause snoring and sleep apnea. The tone and strength of the muscle tissue are also related to the hormone levels. During hormonal fluctuations, the muscle tone will become weak and the upper airway will become collapsible, which may gradually lead to snoring and sleep apnea issues. Furthermore, variation in hormonal levels can also contribute to the weight gain, which is another potential cause for snoring.

How Allergies Cause Snoring and How to Avoid it

April 17, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Allergies And Snoring

Allergies usually occur when people who are prone to it breathe airborne allergens, which aggravate and swell nasal airway passages. It does not happen in all kinds of people, but in those having an immune system that is not strong enough to resist airborne particles such as dust, pet dander, or food contaminants.

If allergies kick in, the immune system sees it as hazardous for the body and sends signals to the lung cells, nose cells, and mouth cells for releasing histamines. The said chemical compound boosts blood circulation in areas that are affected by allergens, thus leading to swelling. So, if you get affected by any of the allergens, histamines would cause the thin walls in the nose to create more mucus than before its releasing.

Of course, there is some amount of mucus in the nose, but excessive mucus would cause a stuffy nose and may affect the normal airflow. The substance that is secreted by mucous membranes may irritate a person’s upper throat airway causing swelling and partial or full obstruction in breathing through the airways.

Allergies that Cause Snoring

Snoring occurs due to lack of free flowing air via the nose as well as throat while sleeping. When breathing during sleep, air rushes past through upper throat tissues, which would vibrate with the surface of the mouth, in turn, producing the snoring sound.

Other than the aforementioned snoring causes, there are more allergies that may cause the health condition including allergies that occur during fall or springtime, allergies from certain food items, medicines, etc. Symptoms that are linked to snoring due to allergies include swelling of the tongue or throat, excess forming of mucus, swelling of mentioned airways, wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, etc. When mucus accumulates excessively in the upper airways, it may lead to a condition named post-nasal drip as well.

To clear allergens, you should keep the surroundings of the bedroom clean. For that, turn on the humidifier 15 to 30 minutes prior to bedtime and keep the humidity at the time between forty to fifty percent. This right use of humidifier would provide an adequate amount of moisture in the surrounding air. This moisture can help to clear airway obstructions and alleviate snoring. Note that it is also important to keep the humidifier in a fresh condition for that. Alternatively, you can also use a nasal spray to clear the mucus formed.

How to Use Yoga to Stop Snoring

April 12, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Stop Snoring

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Yoga To Stop Snoring

Yoga is a healthy practice well known for its ability to heal people of their stress and anxiety. However, did you know that it could also help stop snoring and sleep apnea in their respective tracks? Throwing in some snore stop yoga exercises to augment your daily routine can prove the difference between peaceful and snore-ridden slumber.

Kapalbhati

“Kapal” means skull and “bhati” means shining, and so this technique is also called the “shining skull” technique. It assists in clearing the cranial sinus, the lungs, and the organs present inside the skull. It makes use of forceful breathing to improve how the cranial sinus and systems function.

  • Get seated in a comfortable position with your spine erect. Place the hands on the knees, and the palms facing up.
  • Take a deep breath in.
  • When you start to exhale; try to pull the navel back toward the spine, as far as you can. Place the right hand on your abdomen to feel the muscles contract. Exhale as forcefully as you can.
  • Start relaxing the navel, so that breath flows automatically into your lungs.
  • Do 20 reps of the above steps to finish one round.
  • After each round, sit still with your eyes closed and pay attention to the way you are feeling.
  • Do 2 more rounds.

Bhastrika

Also called “bellow’s breath”, Bhastrika is intended to make your inhalations equal your exhalations in length. With the increased control this gives you over your breathing, you will be able to take longer breaths and relax more easily.

  • First, you need to sit still and relax the shoulders. From this position, take in a few breaths through the nose and exhale. When you inhale, make sure to expand the stomach as much as possible.
  • Exhale with force through the nose for a single second. After this, inhale with the same force for a single second.
  • Keep breathing in and out this way, counting seconds. Your posture should be kept erect, with shoulders relaxed and body still. Only your belly must rise and fall with each breath going in and out.
  • Do this 10 times to complete a cycle; when you are done with the first round, stop for a few seconds to see how you feel. Start the next cycle of 20 reps, pause again, and see how you feel. Then, do your next set of 30 reps; again, sit still and see how you feel.

What are the Major Sleep Disorders in Infants?

April 9, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Stop Snoring

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Sleep Disorders In Infants

The fact that babies will not be able to express their troubles verbally may make it really hard for parents to soothe them, especially for the first-time parents. One of the main things that is seen to trouble new parents a lot is their baby’s sleeping problems.

Although not all sleeping problems are related to medical conditions, there are some “organic causes”, which lead to the same. If so, adequate treatment is crucial, else it can be harmful to your baby as it can eventually lead to other serious infections or health issues. Some of the medical conditions that can disturb the sleep of newborns and toddlers include:

  • Acid reflux
  • Ear infections
  • Fever
  • Snoring or breathing irregularities
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Parasitic infections
  • Milk allergy

As most parents might not be familiar with the symptoms of acid reflux and snoring, below is how these health concerns can cause sleeping problems in infants.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is common in infants and plays a major role in interrupting their sleep cycle. According to a recent study, babies with acid reflux issues are likely to experience frequent arousals. In most cases, GERD will be painful and may cause colic and vomiting in the little one. Additionally, acid reflux is also a risk factor for pulmonary diseases.

GERD can be fatal at times too, and can be classified as a serious disease when it causes the following symptoms in babies.

  • Blood in the vomit or stool
  • Anemia
  • Resistance to feeding
  • Irritability
  • Failure to thrive

If you find any of these symptoms in your baby, avoid acidic food, and also make sure that the baby is in an upright position for at least 20 minutes after feeding. If the symptoms are extreme, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician.

Snoring

According to a recent study, around 15-25% of infants suffer from snoring. This is usually harmless, but in certain cases, it can lead to severe health issues. At times, habitual snoring in babies can be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea. This will result in frequent arousals, irregular breathing, and restlessness during sleep. In some cases, babies with sleep apnea fail to wake up while facing breathing problems. This can be very dangerous, as it may also eventually lead to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Apart from sleep apnea, snoring in babies, who are around 8 months old, may also affect their proper mental development. So, if you find your baby snoring frequently for more than a week or so, better consult a pediatrician right away.

How Snoring Can Harm your Marriage

April 7, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Snoring And Marriage

Most of us are aware of the fact that financial woes and infidelity are two of the major reasons that lead to divorces in the United States. However, several people often fail to understand the fact that the sleep disorder, snoring, is the third largest cause of break-ups and divorces in the country.

A recent study conducted by experts in the field of medical science revealed that couples, in which one partner is suffering from snoring issues, would have more disagreements when compared to other couples. In addition to that, the study further pointed out the fact that couples who belong to the former category will also argue and fight more than normal couples do.

A Married Couples Sleep Study recently evaluated the quality of life, marriage satisfaction, and sleepiness, of about 10 people. This was done to identify how the sleeping disorders of the husband affect his wife. The result obtained from the study revealed a shocking conclusion that couples who are facing sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring are more likely to get divorced.

Rosalind Cartwright, who is the founder of the Sleep Disorders Center at Rush University Medical Center, said, “This is a frequent problem within marriages that nobody is paying enough attention to. Couples who struggle with sleep apnea have a high-divorce rate. Can we save marriages by treating sleep apnea? It’s a question we hope to answer.”

During the study, the participating couples spent a few nights in the lab while health care providers evaluated their sleep patterns to determine how the snoring issues of one’s partner affected his/her sleep quality. Cartwright added, “Our early results are showing that the wife’s sleep is indeed deprived due to the husband’s noisy nights. This is not a mild problem. The lack of sleep for both partners puts a strain on the marriage and creates a hostile and tense situation.”

She concluded by stating, “The strain on the marriage was evident. The couple was fighting all the time and the surveys revealed low satisfaction with the marriage, especially when it came to effective communication.” So, if you or your partner is struggling with snoring issues, and if you wish not to disturb the sleep quality of your partner, you should consider investing in an anti snoring mouthpiece or any other effective snoring aids to treat the condition as soon as possible.

What is the Connection between Snoring and Parkinson’s Disease

April 6, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Snoring And Parkinson’s Disease

Snoring is one of the common problems that most people are facing, at the present time. According to a study, around 40% of people in the United States are facing snoring related issues. This is just the known cases; there will be million other cases that are unreported and untreated. Most people still find it really embarrassing to admit that they have snoring issues.

The Relation between Snoring and Parkinson’s Disease

It is medically proven that snoring may be an indicator of many other diseases such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Alzheimer’s, cardiac issues, etc. In worst cases, snoring can be fatal too, if left untreated. This can be the other way around as well, that is, snoring may be an after effect of some diseases. One of such health issue that may lead to snoring problems is Parkinson’s disease.

According to a recent study, around 75% of people affected with Parkinson’s disease also suffer from sleep disorders such as snoring, sleep apnea, etc. The most common sleep issues that are associated with Parkinson’s include:

  • Snoring
  • Shouting or talking while sleeping
  • Short sleeping intervals
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Fatigue and drowsiness during daytime
  • Nightmares
  • Restless legs
  • Difficulty to turn sides
  • Cramping
  • Rigidity and shivering

Treatment

In some extreme cases, people affected with Parkinson’s syndrome also experience REM sleep behavioral disorder where the person acts out of their dreams. This may include kicking, hitting, shouting, and grinding teeth while sleeping. However, this can be treated using appropriate medication.

In most cases, many symptoms can be a side effect of the medications or drugs that the patient consumes in order to cure the Parkinson’s disease. Hence, it can be solved by changing those medicines or the treatment plan after consulting a doctor. On the other hand, you can also tackle some of these problems up to an extent by making some changes in your lifestyle. A few things in that regard can be:

  • Avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
  • Avoiding drinking water few hours before going to bed
  • Avoiding heavy meal for dinner
  • Avoiding to think about stressful things before going to bed

The amount of sleep of the patient also triggers many sleeping disorders. So, it is advisable to keep a track of sleep cycle of the patient by means of home sleep study. In this, the breathing, as well as sleep parameters of the patient, is monitored. This will include a pulse oximetry, an instrument to measure the oxygen levels in the blood along with a record of events like the pause in breathing, sleeping pattern, snoring, movements, etc.

Oropharyngeal Exercises for Alleviating Breathing Issues during Sleep

April 5, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

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Oropharyngeal And Sleep Apnea

Oropharyngeal refers to an area of the throat to the back of the mouth, comprising of the uvula, tonsils, soft tissues, and back of the tongue. Doing an oropharyngeal exercise can help to alleviate disordered breathing conditions during sleep such as snoring and apnea. Such exercises will strengthen the throat muscles and can avoid it from collapsing while you sleep.

The purpose of an oropharyngeal exercise is to improve the muscle tone associated with the opening of the upper airway, which comprises of the jaw, throat muscles, and tongue palates. If the root cause of your snoring and other breathing issues during sleep is a receding tongue, the exercise meant to strengthen the tongue and its nearby muscles would help greatly in alleviating the condition.

In case you breathe through an open mouth during sleep and snoring occurs due to that, it is worth considering using oral appliances such as a sleep apnea mouthpiece that trains you to sleep with the mouth closed. The prime intention of such snoring remedies is to open the airway for a free flow of air during sleep and cure the health issue without any side effects. The same goes true for oropharyngeal exercises that are meant to reduce apnea episodes during sleep.

Some of such throat and mouth exercises even have the backing of clinical studies just as it is with a proven anti snoring mouthpiece or any other snoring remedy that works on improving the structure of the airway. It is believed that an instrument such as the didgeridoo was used to improve the same in the past, and oropharyngeal exercises were invented as an advanced form of speech therapy that could cure mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Such exercises for breathing disorders during sleep can as easy as putting the tongue’s tip on the surface of the mouth and sliding it backward or opening the mouth to its full and ensuring that your lips meet while closing the mouth. To get the desired results of an oropharyngeal exercise, a snorer should practice the same several times throughout a day or at least for a total of half an hour in intervals of 3 minutes or so. Even singing the vowel sounds with an open throat is a form of such exercises.