You sleep all night long, yet you always feel exhausted when you roll out of bed in the morning. Or maybe you wake easily enough, but you’ve struggled for weeks to stay awake during the day. You may be snoring all night without realizing it.
Snoring doesn't just prevent you from getting a good night's sleep. It can also raise your risk of heart disease, auto accidents and an unhappy partner. During sleep, certain triggers may relax the muscles in your airway so much that your throat narrows. The turbulence may vibrate your tongue and soft palate - the divider that separates your breathing passage from the passage leading into your stomach. The vibrating makes the snoring sound. Remember, not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). But anyone who snores may find themselves face to face with an angry, sleepy spouse by dawn’s early light. Put a stop to your snoring once and for all, hopefully with the use of one of these tools, Whatever device or tool you choose, be sure to get in shape if you’re overweight and avoid sleeping on your back. Experts say these simple strategies can be surprisingly effective.
Your doctor may prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, a small machine that sends a stream of air into an attached nose mask that you wear. The CPAP is the gold standard for treating snoring and sleep apnea, but can be difficult to use. As a result, many people don’t stick with them. Using the machine keeps your airways open so you stop losing sleep. Keep in mind that sleep apnea can be dangerous, so getting treatment may not only stop your snoring, it may also protect your health.
These stick to your nostrils like small, round bandages and create pressure when you exhale, which in turn keeps your airway open. How effective are they? Researchers have seen a 40 percent improvement in mild and moderate cases of OSA. While they only cost a couple of dollars each, you do have to replace them every night, so your investment definitely adds up. In addition, you’ll need a doctor’s prescription.
This can be up to 90 percent effective in treating OSA. These custom-made mouth guards work by pushing your jaw forward, which keeps your tongue from falling back into your airway and blocking your airflow. MADs can be pricey, costing upwards of $2,200, but many are covered by health insurance or Medicare. Studies suggest MADs also help reduce your blood pressure just as well as CPAP machines. Additionally, if you grind your teeth at night, a mouth guard will help stop tooth abrasion.
Pillar palatal implants mainly treat snoring, but they can also help mild to moderate sleep apnea. They’re done in your doctor’s office using local anesthesia. They will insert three short pieces of polyester string into the soft palate of your mouth to keep it from moving at night. Research shows it works as well as some surgical procedures but with much less pain and a faster recovery.