Snoring Solutions

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 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.

Researchers Say Fat Deposits in the Tongue Causes Snoring and Apnea

March 26, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Sleep Apnea And Fat Deposits

If loud snoring is causing a sleep disturbance not only for you but for your bedmate as well, then it may occur due to fat buildup in the base of the tongue. Researchers say that the fat deposits in the tongue may cause the muscles to constrict the airway, in turn, leading one to snore heavily during sleep. This also serves as an explanation as to why obese people snore more and encounter sleep apnea episodes, which is characterized by not just snoring but also by breathing pauses that may last for a few seconds to up to an hour.

If you are obese and snore at night, it is best to get a screening done to diagnose sleep apnea, a disorder where the throat muscles recede back into the mouth during sleep. Apart from increasing the size of the tongue, the fat deposits may affect how muscles attach the tongue to the bone as well. This prevents the adequate tongue positioning away from the breathing passage and induces snoring in sleep.

Earlier, medical practitioners used to say that it is the fat deposits around the neck, that causes snoring in obese people in particular, but this revelation may seem startling to all. Sleep specialists say that the size of the tongue is an important physical aspect of the health issue, which is best analyzed by an expert physician when screening is done on obese people to diagnose the possibility of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is linked to chronic conditions that affect respiratory functions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and even mental health. Due to that early diagnosis and ideal treatment is a must to manage the said risk factors associated with sleep apnea. If fat buildup in the base of the tongue is diagnosed, physicians recommend a surgical procedure to clear the fat deposits. This is done to stop the tongue from collapsing back into the throat and help to maintain its proper positioning for normal breathing.

If you are snoring due to other causes such as excessive fat deposits around the neck and a consequential receding tongue problem, a common remedy to try to alleviate that is using an anti snoring mouth guard. The mandibular advancement device worn on the mouth advances the lower jaw forward, clears the constrictions in the upper throat, and makes breathing easy. As the stop snoring mouth guard is clinically approved, it poses no risks of side effects on the patient.

Can an Anti Snoring Mouthpiece and Dental Implants be Used Together?

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

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Snoring And Dental Implants

It is a receding jaw while sleeping that contributes to a constricted airway and snoring sound, which occurs when breathing air rushes past the upper throat and the tissues vibrate against the upper surface of the mouth. Most mandibular advancement devices work on the same principle of advancing the lower jaw forward to clear partial airway blockages in the throat. A snoring mouth guard worn on the lower front teeth advances the mandible by applying an inward pressure on upper teeth.

If your snoring device doesnt help, you should go to a local health clinic for better results.

Not all mandibular advancement devices are created equal, but better-built snoring mouthpieces use boil and bite technology, which provides a much comfortable fit. Such kinds of mouthpieces require the snorer to have strong lower and upper front teeth though. Manufacturers of such anti snoring devices often endorse using it for advancing the lower jaw. However, if you have missing or loose lower front teeth or use dentures holding the teeth intact to improve stability, it is best to consult the dentist to know if a mouthpiece can be worn alongside that to alleviate snoring.

Occasional snorers often ask whether mandibular advancement devices can be worn together with non-removable partial denture or full dentures with dental implants. Note that it might be uncomfortable wearing full dentures in particular and the mouth guard to stop snoring. In a general sense, if the partial implants are put on the front portion of the upper or lower teeth, it will be tough to use a snoring mouthpiece alongside that. So it is worth paying a visit to the dentist in order to know if a mouthpiece may prove to be the best fit when it comes to reducing snoring.

Maybe you have a dental crown or a dental bridge placed over an implant for providing an artificial shape that resembles a row of teeth. If you wear that, it is worth wondering if wearing an anti snoring mouth guard may involve severe pain. When it comes to non-removable partial dentures, the answer may depend on the teeth crown or bridge and the health of the natural teeth remaining in the mouth.

Generally, those having dental crowns or bridges at the gum’s rear would find using a stop snoring mouthpiece much comfortable when compare to those who have had dental treatments done on the front teeth.

What is the Relation between Snoring and Psoriasis?

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

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Psoriasis And Snoring

Snoring is the sound produced as a result vibration in the respiratory structures because of the restricted airflow during breathing. On the other hand, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by the red patches and itchiness on the skin.

The Relation between Psoriasis and Snoring

Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which people stop breathing repeatedly, has been reported in most of the people who are affected with psoriasis. This is because people affected with psoriasis are more likely to be awake most of the time at night and are prone to end up with sleep disorders.

Solutions

The people affected with psoriasis are prone to depression, which causes sleep disorders, or it can be the other way around as well. So, the main solution to tackle this is to consult a doctor as soon as you feel any sleeping disorder symptoms. They will conduct various tests to find out the root cause and will provide appropriate treatment. Minor sleep issues can be treated using anti snoring mouth guards, but medications will be required if you are at high risk.

Psoriasis is a long-lasting disease, and hence, it is not easy to treat it fast. In most cases, drugs that induce sleep are given to the patients so that they can have a peaceful sleep. There are some other tips that are suggested by almost every doctor, especially for psoriatic people for a comparatively better sleep. Some of them are listed below.

Follow a Sleep Schedule

The time you go to sleep and wake up plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy sleep cycle. Most people sleep at different times every day. This will disturb your internal body clock and result in many sleeping disorders. So, follow a healthy sleep schedule.

Turn off your Gadgets

Most people are addicted to their gadgets nowadays and find it difficult to sleep without browsing through something on their device. This can affect your sleep cycle very badly. So, keep all your gadgets away while at bed; it is also recommended to keep your room dark and quite for a comfortable and peaceful sleep.

Avoid Taking Naps

People usually take naps during the afternoon, which is not a good practice. This may keep you active during daytime, but will probably keep you from sleep during the night.

Wear Cotton Gloves

Wearing gloves while sleeping may cause some discomfort at first. However, this is an ideal solution to prevent you from scratching your skin due to itchiness.

Avoid Stimulants

Most people have a habit of bedtime coffee. The caffeine in your coffee is a stimulant that keeps you from sleeping. Similarly, consuming alcohol, drugs, etc., before sleep time will also disrupt your sleep.

Some of the Best Ways to Get Rid of Snoring

March 14, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Getting Rid Of Snoring

In the US, over 90 million adults snore in their sleep. Additionally, 59 percent of the population has a partner who snores at night. Millions of these people are in search of a cure to the persistent problem of snoring, and that is after having tried and failed with the more traditional methods. These days the issue is one to be taken very seriously, and to be addressed in a similar manner.

Most doctors would tell you that snoring is not just an annoyance, but, in fact, a condition that brings along serious health consequences. Ignoring the former means ignoring the latter as well. If you know a person who snores at night, then it is probably high time you got them to do something about it.

Snoring Solutions to Address Snoring

  • Oral or Dental Devices: The main goal with these is to get rid of the obstruction in the airways, for which the main reason is usually the tongue. If this is the cause of snoring or sleep apnea, then a mandibular advancement device can be used. It forces the lower jaw forward a bit, and consequently moves the tongue’s base away from the back of the throat.
  • Tennis Ball: Snoring almost always results from sleeping on your back, which causes the tongue to fall back into the throat. One way to combat this is to attach a tennis ball to the back of your nightshirt so you will sleep on your side. Eventually, sleeping that way will become a habit.
  • Tongue Aerobics: One of the causes of snoring and sleep apnea is muscle weakness, especially in the tongue, upper throat, and mouth. You can perform exercises for strengthening these muscles, mainly targeting the ones used for chewing and swallowing. It has been proven that doing a few tongue exercises each day can bring down the chances of snoring at night.
  • Pillow Change: You may have allergens in the room or in your pillows, which cause you to snore. In such cases, you would feel fine during the day. You may even be having an allergic reaction to the material on your pillow.
  • Nose Cones: You can place these in each nostril to expand it. The technique works similarly to nasal strips, but there is none of the irritation of removing the latter come morning.
  • Nasal Sprays: Using these regularly can help eliminate bacteria, which may be causing obstructions in the nasal airway.

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.

Is your Mattress or Pillows Contributing to Snoring Issues?

February 23, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Snoring And Pillow

When one falls asleep with an open mouth, the jaws relax causing the throat tissues to sag. This makes the tissues to vibrate against the roof of the mouth when breathing air rushes past the upper throat. Further, if the upper body of the sleeper is not adequately supported over the course of a long-hour sleep, the partial blockage in the upper airway may aggravate. The lower jaw hangs loosely, which further constricts the upper airway causing loud snoring.

A mattress may contribute to nighttime snoring while one sleeps on the back, and especially if the mattress does not provide full support to neck and back. If the mattress is too soft, it may not provide sufficient spine support while sleeping. Although, a plush mattress may offer soft surface comfort for sleepers it may not provide adequate support to keep the upper body in an elevated position.

Elevating the head can encourage the jaws and tongue to advance forward, which may potentially clear the snoring problem. However, your mattress needs to support the spine in order to achieve the right head height to clear constricted airway and alleviate snoring.

If you are using even an old mattress that is beginning to sag, it may not help align the spine correctly when sleeping. Further, the sleeping position may even cause the upper airways to become constricted, and snoring to erupt.

In order to reduce loud snoring and avoid a distraction to your bedmate, you have to make sure the mattress conforms to the cervical and lumbar spine curve. Further, you need to ensure that the upper spine is kept straight on the bed in all sleeping positions in order to keep the airways open. The matters should support the neck and head, in particular, to facilitate the air to pass.

If your mattress sags excessively to cause a partial blockage in the upper airway, you should consider changing the mattress. However, you need not go for a firm mattress since that may not support the back curve and may even cause a back pain and shoulder pain. Sleep specialists suggest using medium firm, latex mattresses as the best option to support the lumbar spine and cervical spine forming the upper body. Alternatively, you can place a wedge pillow over the sagging bed.

Types of Pillows That Claim to Reduce Mild Snoring

February 15, 2018 Snoring-Aid.com Staff Snoring Solutions

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Snoring And Pillow Types

An anti-snoring pillow might help to reduce snoring in due course as per your sleep position. If you snore mildly at night, try any of the pillows that claim to lessen the snoring sound. The notion behind pillows meant to alleviate snoring is that once snorers are aligned on a side-sleeping position, mild snoring lessens over time. When one sleeps on the back, slack-jawed with an open mouth, tongue relaxes to the mouth’s back. This partially obstructs the airway and leads to snoring.

Wedge Pillow

Such types of pillows raise the upper body and position the spine to keep the said airways open. In addition to that, since it is slightly slanted, the pillow can help reduce conditions such as acid reflux and clear an airway obstruction in the upper throat due to that. This is one of the reasons, why it has a reputation of reducing snoring whilst giving a peaceful sleep.

Contour Pillow

Such memory foam pillows that are curved have the backing of clinical tests. The elevated middle portion of a contour pillow and the indentation of the shoulder keep the head at an ideal height for sleeping. Such types of snoring pillows have a curvy design that helps keep the airway in the back of the mouth open. It helps cure snoring in the same tried and tested stop snoring principle of elevating the head.

Latex Foam Pillow

The benefits of sleeping without having to snore can be experienced by the bedfellow than the snorer who is unaware of the problem. If you only have mild to moderate snoring, try one of these pillows to sleep peacefully. However, the one you choose depends on your comfort level. For instance, latex foam pillows are firm than contour pillows featuring memory foam.

It provides a support that helps to ‘contour’ the head. Look for such kinds of pillows with a wavy design in order to keep the airways open while you sleep. Many people feel that pillows made of latex foam helps lessen the turning and tossing of the head on bed.

Having said that, anti snore pillows are advisable for soft snoring. If you suffer from a sleep disorder like Obstructive Sleep Apnea characterized by loud snoring, you should try snoring solutions like an anti snore mouthpiece. The mouth guard works to clear the airway obstructions by keeping the lower jaw forward, and helps to ease snoring within a few weeks’ use.