May 2018

How is Sleep Related to Cholesterol

May 29, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

Cholesterol Affects Sleep

As you may think, cholesterol is not often a bad thing. You need to be aware of the fact that there are two types of cholesterol: LDL (Low-density Lipoprotein) and HDL (High-density Lipoprotein). LDL is definitely bad cholesterol that consists of more fat and less protein, has a negative effect on health, and even increases the risk of heart disease. On the contrary, HDL is a good cholesterol that is capable of removing harmful, bad cholesterol from the body.

Cholesterol and Sleep

Too much or too little sleep can have a bad impact on the levels of lipid in our body. If you sleep for less than 5 hours or more than 8 hours per day, you may have low HDL levels and high triglycerides. Many studies say that snoring is also related to low levels of HDL cholesterol, which in turn, leads to sleep deprivation and fatigue.

In addition, if you do not get enough sleep, it may cause an increase in craving for high cholesterol food. This can lead to increase in stress levels and decrease the drive to engage in physical activities.

Lifestyle Modifications

LDL cholesterol can be high for people who smoke, do not exercise regularly, or have poor diet habits. All this means that a few lifestyle changes can help to control bad cholesterols to an extent. In fact, you can do many things that can prevent you from having high cholesterol apart from having healthy sleep habits. One of the simplest things is to control your diet.

You need to avoid foods like butter, cheese, meat, and other food having high saturated fat content. Furthermore, try adding some food items that can help you lower the bad cholesterol, such as nuts, olive oil, avocados, and oats.

Another important aspect to follow is exercising. You can try moderate walking for 40 minutes, at least three times a week, or do other exercises like jogging, swimming, or cycling. You can also do meditation or yoga regularly to keep your health well.

When to Consult a Doctor

Following good sleeping habits can drastically decrease bad cholesterol levels. However, if you are having serious health issues related to cholesterol like extreme fatigue, nausea, breathing problems, numbness, or chest pain, you need to consult a doctor immediately.

Note that although snoring can be prevented by using one of the many snoring solutions, sleeping trouble is something that needs proper medical attention. In severe cases, it may even cause serious heart diseases. So consulting with a doctor before anything serious happens will be a wise choice for you; remember, prevention is always better than cure.

Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea That are Rarely Recognized

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

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.

How Does Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affect Respiration?

May 22, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

Snoring Related Issues

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition where you may stop breathing for a short time while you are sleeping. Usually, these pauses, which are referred to as apnea events or apnea episodes, may last from 10 to 30 seconds. People having this health condition may stop breathing hundreds of times every night, and this may lead to low oxygen levels and sleep disruption.

It is seen that OSA leads usually to restlessness, and if not treated properly, it may reduce cognitive function and cause daytime sleepiness. Apart from this, it also heightens the risks of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Though sleep apnea mouth guard can be used to prevent snoring and limit the OSA symptoms to an extent, severe cases of sleep apnea needs to be treated. Therefore, it would be wiser to consult a doctor if you have the condition.

Apart from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, there are three more kinds of sleep apnea, namely sleep-hypoventilation syndrome, complex or mixed sleep apnea, and central sleep apnea. Regardless of which type of sleep apnea you have, timely intervention is mandatory to deal with the health issue properly. The following are the factors that may lead to higher risk of the condition.

Obesity
Having thick and large neck
Hereditary disease
If you are male
If you are 40 years or more
Presence of large tonsils
Recessed chin

In case of children, they may have this syndrome if there are large tonsils and adenoids.

How Sleep Apnea Affects Breathing?

At first, you will be breathing normally and sleeping quietly, and the air can flow easily to the lungs through the breathing tube. A little later, you might start snoring loudly; this means that your air passage is blocked partly. If the block worsens, it can affect the volume of air that enters the lungs, and hence, lead to a significant drop in the oxygen levels. This condition is referred to as hypopnea.

As time passes, your airway gets blocked completely, and when the brain gives the signal to breathe as normal, you couldn’t breathe in the air because of the blocked air passage. After a ten to thirty second pause, the brain realizes that you were not breathing, thus, it will force you to wake up. When you can wake up, you take a deep breath of air, and thereby, start breathing normally. However, the cycle may repeat, and this leads to frequent sleep interruption.

3 Reasons Why Snoring Should Be Treated Early

May 19, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

Snoring Treatment Tips

People snore when the muscles of the throat relax during sleep, causing the airway constricted and forcing the air breathed to vibrate the soft palate in the throat. The first stage of snoring, which is classified as “simple”, does not necessarily lead to sleep apnea. However, mild snoring issue still poses the risk factors for the sleep disorder to happen.

Snoring can be classified as benign, but it is not gentle and kind. The health condition is not literally benign, and below are 3 reasons as to why it should be treated early with the right anti snoring remedies. Stop snoring mouthpiece is one such remedy used to treat mild-to-moderate apnea.

Snoring May Lead to Sleep Apnea

It is seen that if one snores during sleep, he or she has 35 percent likelihood of falling victim to Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the future. This is also a form of sleep-disordered breathing, the one that may last for a few seconds to up to an hour, making snorers wake up gasping for breath. If you have apnea, you have the same risk factors applicable to an obese person. In other words, if you do not treat it in time, you might have to undergo stroke, heart attack, or heart diseases during adulthood.

Snoring Affects Relationships

Snoring often gets portrayed in print or digital media with sarcasm or pun, but when it comes to real-life, people need to treat snoring with caution. This is not just to alleviate the uneasiness in breathing and the health risks associated with it, but also to make relationships last. After all, no one would want snoring to cause an annoyance to his or her bedmate. If a person who breathes through the mouth snores, he or she may even have bad breath. So, your daily interactions may even get hampered due to snoring, not to mention feeling sleep deprived and tired at daytime.

Snoring May Even Cause Hearing Loss

It is one thing to turn tone-deaf, and entirely different to lose the ability to hear even the tiniest of musical notes. Loud snoring ranges up to 60 to 80 decibels threshold, and it can lead to apnea, alongside the swelling of the throat tissues, cardiovascular concerns, etc. An American Thoracic Society International Conference’s study says that all these sleep disorder breathing symptoms may cause hearing impairment in the patient.

What is Gastroesophageal Reflux and How is it Related to Snoring?

May 17, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

Snoring Related Issues

Gastroesophageal reflux, otherwise known as acid reflux or GERD, is associated with a burning sensation in the throat and esophagus, and it can cause difficulty in the digestion of food. Though a person may not have eaten for many hours before sleep, acid reflux can affect sleep in a number of ways. The most common symptom you may experience due to GERD is snoring, aside from the coughing, chest pain, and sinusitis issues.

Acid Reflux and Snoring

The cause of Gastroesophageal reflux is due to the backup of acid within the stomach. This is often associated with a bitter or sour taste that usually occurs within 30-60 minutes after eating. It is usually caused because of sleeping in the prone position, which makes undigested food particles and acid backup through the airway. As a result, the backup of acid weakens breathing and causes snoring.

Effects

Esophageal Damage: Severe or persistent acid reflux may damage the esophagus. Chronical bleeding due to esophageal ulcers might lead to anemia and lead to persistent tiredness and fatigue.

Sleep Disruption: Constant tiredness in the daytime occurs due to inadequate sleep at night. For the people who have acid reflux, poor sleep may be caused by repeatedly waking up at night due to a reflex-induced cough or heartburn pain.

If you have these symptoms, make sure to visit a doctor as soon as possible to cut down the possibilities of GERD becoming severe. The doctor may recommend a snoring solution to deal with the sleep disorder and let you have a peaceful night’s sleep. Besides, the health care specialist many also recommend a few lifestyle changes to counter the acid reflux problem.

Foods to Avoid

Acidic Fruits and Vegetables: Acidic foods with a pH of 6.9 or less do not usually cause acid reflux. Most of the acidic foods have a high pH than that of gastric juices, but the acids in food that have low pH can cause burning sensation in the esophagus.

Spicy Foods: Spicy foods might worsen hoarseness and acid reflux in some people. Therefore, it would be better to go with mild foods and seasonings. Try to avoid spicy foods like hot peppers, miso paste, salsa, peppermint, spearmint, chili etc.

Fatty Foods: Fatty foods may slow the digestion and result in an increase of pressure in the lower part of esophagus and stomach. It will be better to avoid fatty foods including dairy products that are high in saturated fat, and linked to increased inflammation and cholesterol.

Loud Snorers May Suffer from Muscle and Nerve Damage in the Soft Palate

May 15, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

Snoring And Nerve Damage

As you would probably know, snoring is a dangerous sleep disorder, and if left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues. If you are finding it really hard to sleep due to snoring related issues, it is best to get in touch with a health care provider and get medical assistance as soon as possible.

During your initial visit, the health care provider will ask you to make a few lifestyle changes and suggest a few snoring remedies, which might help you to stop snoring. If the snoring solutions suggested by the health care provider did not work out, then he/she will advise you to use an anti snoring mouthpiece. These medically proven snoring aids have helped several snorers to reduce or even stop snoring.

It is significant to note that some snorers have a misconception that their snoring will go away with the passage of time. As a result, they prefer not to undergo any treatment. This is a bad move because snoring can lead to sleep apnea and many other serious health issues.

In fact, a recent study conducted by experts in the field of medical science revealed that loud snorers and the ones who snore on regular intervals might have extensive tissue damage in the muscles and nerves of the soft palate. In addition to that, experts added that the extensive damage in muscle and nerve tissues will result in other serious sleep disorders and some snorers may even experience disturbances in their swallowing function.

One of the researchers who conducted the study said, “The nerve and muscles injuries seem to contribute to the collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Most likely, the damage results from the recurrent snoring vibrations the tissues are exposed to.”

The nerves in the soft palate of sleep apnea patients and snorers contain less number of nerve fibers and supporting cells, which plays a crucial role in the regeneration of nerve fibers. The researcher added, “Continued research is needed to see if treatment that prevents damage to nerves and muscles could cure or at least prevent further deterioration in snores and sleep apnea patients. It would be a big win because sleep apnea is a major public illness.”

Health care providers recently claimed that millions of people from all around the world suffer from sleep apnea and the numbers are expected to grow in the near future. So, if you wish to stay away from such dangerous health disorders, it is best to use snoring aids to stop snoring.

Study Shows Snoring Loudly Can Make your Skull Thinner

May 10, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

Sleep Apnea Problems

A new study shows that snoring loudly can make your skull weak. It has been found that people contending with this sleep disorder have significantly less bone surrounding their brain.

One of the problems this can cause is spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak (sCSF-L). When the results from the study were matched by weight, age, and blood samples, it was found that people with OSA or obstructive sleep apnea had had a characteristic thinness to their skulls. Experts have said that even an erosion of as little as 1mm would be enough to trigger the potentially fatal condition of sCSF-L.

Sleep apnea is where the airways of the affected person become obstructed while they are asleep, causing them to stop breathing for as long as a few minutes, and then settle back into loud snoring. It is found to be one of the most common sleep-related breathing disorders in adults, and has links to stroke, heart attack, and premature death caused by any number of reasons. Around 22 million people in the country suffer from sleep apnea, and more than three quarters of the cases go undiagnosed.

sCSF-L happens when the dura and bone of the base of the skull are defective. This issue has no roots in trauma, tumors, or surgery. Experts who conducted the study said more research is needed to see how sleep apnea can be a cause of the skull thinning, and how the risks of sCSF-L are raised by this. They also opined that patients who exhibit skull thinning in CT scans might be more prone to contracting sleep apnea, making it important that these people go in for screening.

People who are obese are markedly more vulnerable, which is another good reason for them to try and shed a few pounds if they have the chance. The rates of sCSF-L incidence in the US have gone up by more than double in the past decade alone, and this is highly consistent with the increase in obesity cases. People with sCSF-L get a colorless, odorless discharge from the nose, which results from a hole in the tissue around the spinal cord and brain.

While the use of snoring remedies can be very helpful in alleviating a basic snoring issue, severe sleep apnea condition requires care from a sleep specialist and customized treatment to be completely cured of. Get in touch with a sleep doctor to find out your snore stop options.

How Snoring Can Contribute to Hearing Loss in Bedmates

May 8, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Remedies

Snoring and Deafness

Snoring is defined as the sound produced as a result of the vibration of respiratory structures that is caused due to the obstructive airflow while sleeping. In some cases, the snoring sound might be mild, whereas it would be loud and unpleasant in other cases. The latter kind of snoring during sleep can also be the first sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA.

According to the studies, around 40% of people in the United States are suffering from severe snoring issues. Just like OSA, snoring can also be the indicator of many other fatal health issues such as heart diseases, mental disorders, and many other health problems. It can also be the other way round; that is, frequent snoring can also contribute to other diseases.

Note that it is not the snorers who always suffer; people sleeping with them are also prone to many health issues. One of the major health problems commonly seen in people sleeping with snorers is deafness.

The Relation between Snoring and Deafness in Bedmates

According to recent studies, it is determined that almost every people who sleep close to the snorers suffer from a high-frequency hearing loss in the ear that is closest to the snorer. Not only the bed partners, the snorers themselves are also prone to hearing diseases.

As said, frequent snoring also leads to sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that forces the patient to pause breathing for a few seconds while asleep. However, the occurrence and range of these pauses vary in different people; it can last from few seconds to more than a minute, and can occur more than 30 times in an hour. These pauses will result in frequent awakenings and thereby disrupt the sleep of the patient.

Sleep apnea can hold back the vascular supply to the cochlea that results in inflammation in the ear. This, along with loud snoring, leads to hearing loss and other health issues. As for the bedmate, frequent wake ups, disrupted sleep, and annoying snoring sounds, all trigger the sensory nerves in the brain and lead to hearing issues, aside from the tiredness, fatigue, and mood-swings in the daytime.

Counter Measures for Snoring

One of the best options to counter snoring issues is to use a reliable, medically approved snore guard. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor and do a sleep-test prior to this; using the wrong snore guard may worsen the situation. You can also tackle the condition and stop snoring by taking proactive measures such as losing weight, stop consuming liquor, etc.

If you are diagnosed with hearing loss, it is recommended to consult an audiologist and conduct a hearing test. Note that hearing loss can be treated completely if it is diagnosed at an earlier stage.

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

May 5, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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.

Lesser-Known Facts about Sleep Apnea

May 4, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Anti Snoring Remedies

Facts About Sleep Apnea

If you are unable to get a good night’s sleep, then you will probably wake up feeling a bit tired and irritated. In addition to some people may also find it very difficult to concentrate on their academics or work if they are not able to enjoy a peaceful sleep. However, several people often fail to realize the fact that sleep apnea or other sleep-related disorders might be the reason why they are finding it hard to sleep.

It might come as a surprise to many when they hear the fact that the sleeping disorder, sleep apnea is one of the major culprits behind the sleep issues of several people. In fact, a recent study conducted by experts in the field of medical science revealed that one out of five adults in the country suffers from breathing disorders due to sleep apnea.

If you are waking up in the middle of your sleep due to breathing issues or if your sleep is being disrupted at regular intervals, then you should consider seeking medical assistance as fast as possible. If you are a snorer, then the health care provider will ask you to use anti snoring devices, which might help you to stop snoring.

Sleep apnea is actually a problematic and distressing chronic health problem, which can bring serious health issues if left untreated. This common sleep disorder was actually named after a Greek word that meant “want of breath” in English.

Recent studies conducted by experts revealed that sleep apnea is very common in people who are in the age range of 50 to 60 years. In addition to that, the studies pointed out that two percent of children and six percents of adults are also experiencing sleep apnea related problems. It is significant to note that sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders are more common in men when compared to women.

If you are obese, then you are at a higher risk of falling prey to this sleep disorder. Likewise, people with larger neck size, sinus problems, and allergies may also develop sleep apnea at some point in your life. The intake of alcohol, smoking, and taking sedatives will also relax your muscles and obstruct your airway, which in turn lead to sleep apnea. The good news is that avoiding alcohol consumption and quitting smoking might help you to stay away from sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.