Stop Snoring – Snoring Be Gone

There are many reasons that a person snores. Sometimes the snorer is anything but the stereotypical image of an overweight man who has fallen asleep on his back after a large meal and several alcoholic drinks. Occasionally the person who is snoring is instead a pregnant woman. Unfortunately, if she is snoring its likely a sign of a problem.

It can be a sign that she is suffering from hypertension, which is a frighteningly prevalent cause of death for the pregnant woman. It can also be a sign that the unborn child is at risk for growth retardation or even death.

In pregnant women snoring can be a warning of pre-eclampsia, which is the condition that includes hypertension, swelling of the limbs and protein in the urine. It can also be a sign of toxemia. Another indicator is excessive sleeping during the day. During pregnancy there is a marked increase in blood. This is to help nourish the baby. But, because of this increase the blood vessels in a woman’s body will also get bigger.

This becomes a problem as the blood vessels of the nose and throat increase in size, which also prompts the mucus membranes to bloat. This causes an obstruction, making it more difficult to breath. It also makes her snore.

Studies have shown that snoring increases during pregnancy. It has been shown that by the last three months of pregnancy, twenty four percent of women are snoring. Or if they previously were snorers then there is a marked increase in the volume.

Eleven percent of pregnant women have an excessive weight gain, which in itself will cause snoring. Women who already snored were found to have to deal with additional snoring, but as well they seemed to suffer from more severe swelling of the hands, face, feet and legs. One of the concerns is that pregnant snorers tended to also have infants with difficulties.

The babies were often born with low birth weights and lower APGARs with most babies not scoring above seven. This was seen in seven percent of snoring moms, many of who also smoked which is another factor in low birth weight.

There are a few things a pregnant woman can do to improve the nights sleep, hopefully making it a night with less snoring, include avoiding caffeine. Caffeine narrows the airways and so can cause more snoring. Sleeping on the side with an extra pillow will help to open the passageways. They can also try using a snoring appliance like nasal strips that are an easy and relatively inexpensive method to alleviate a snoring problem.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to increases in breathing problems, particularly upper respiratory issues because as they gain weight, pressure winds up being put on the diaphragm and so restricts unproblematic breathing.

Consequently, if you are concerned by an increase in snoring of your pregnant partner, a visit to your health provider may benefit both them and your unborn child. Bear in mind that caution is always better than regret.

Continued from our stop snoring tips page.. we’ve got 8 more tips for you!

Tip 8 – Develop good sleeping habits. One of the side effects of snoring can be fatigue and a lack of energy. It can therefore be very easy to just take a nap here and there. Although it is important to be alert when driving, making napping into a habit can make the problem even worse if it leads to insomnia.

Tip 9 – There are numerous anti-snoring devices available on the market including a pillow that forces the snorer to sleep on their side. Sleep position is known to contribute to snoring and those who sleep on their backs tend to be worse snorers so a side sleep position is to be encouraged.

Tip 10 – I know this sounds incredibly simple, but if your partner is a snorer, you are less likely to be disturbed by their snoring if you go to bed first and manage to fall asleep before they do. I know in some cases this may not make much of a difference if you are a light sleeper of if they are really noisy, but it’s worth a shot.

Tip 11 – If you feel really tired, a long walk can be very refreshing and re energising. Just make sure not to exercise too late in the evening as exercise can induce heavy sleep and heavy sleep periods very often co-inside with snoring.

Tip 12 – One home made remedy to try against snoring is to sow a pocket on the back of the snorers night garment. Place the pocket a little bit below the shoulder blades and put a ball in it. The idea is that it prevents the snorer from sleeping on their back. Sleeping on their back is the worst position for snoring.

Tip 13 – Avoid alcohol and sedatives as they will relax the tissue in the airways and will the snoring stronger.

Tip 14 – If at all possible keep your bedroom well ventilated and cool. If you don’t have air conditioning and if it is practical, keep a window open. If you do have air conditioning use it a little just to keep the bedroom temperature cool during the night. Ventilate the bedroom fully during the day.

Tip 15 – If you do have an operation to your throat and nose to get rid of snoring, consider that most patients will begin to snore again after 2 to 3 years, although a little less loud than previously. It may be necessary to go back to get the procedure redone.

Explanation: You searched for “corrective mouthpiece for snoring” – Based on the words in your search, we’re guessing that you’re looking for information on a mouthpiece that will help you stop snoring!

Solution: To help you find the answers, we suggest you start by learning all you can about snoring through the guides and resources available on this website. Then, take a look at some of the programs and products that there are available to help with snoring. You may also want to take a look at some of the snoring books available.

Recommendations:

1. Get started by reading articles on snoring!
2. We recommend reading: Devices to Stop Snoring
3. Check out our interview on the “Noiselezz” mouthpiece

After being diagnosed with sleep apnea many patients wonder if there are any ways that they can help themselves health wise in regards to their condition. While there is presently no cure for sleep apnea there are ways to help decrease the incidence and severity of symptoms.

It is wise though to first sit down and talk with your doctor or healthcare provider to learn everything about your condition and to discuss treatment methods. Ask your doctor what are the best ways you can help to improve your medical situation. Keep in mind that it is essential to follow your doctor’s instructions and to use these suggestions in conjunction with the prescribed treatment, whether it be CPAP, surgery, etc.

Many individuals consider these “self-help remedies” to be lifestyle changes. Be aware that these changes can also improve other medical conditions and are beneficial in improving an individual’s overall health and well being.

Weight is one important aspect that makes a difference in sleep apnea. If you are overweight or obsess lose the weight. Even losing a few pounds can make a difference in sleep apnea symptoms. An excessive amount of weight on the body can make sleep apnea worse in two different ways.

First of all those who are overweight tend to have thicker necks and more fatty tissue in their neck area. Too much fat in this area can obstruct the airway and make collapse more likely. The other contributing factor is too much weight in the abdominal area makes it more likely for the muscles that control breathing to work insufficiently. Breathing muscles that don’t work to their optimum best can make breathing during nighttime sleep tremendously more difficult.

Some people find it a struggle to lose weight and prefer to attempt to lose weight or go on a special weight loss plan after they have commenced their sleep apnea treatment. This is perfectly fine. The important thing is to lose excess weight if it is necessary. If you are of a normal weight then you have nothing to worry about in this area!

Smoking makes sleep apnea a great deal worse as it contributes to a “decreased lung capacity.” As well smoking causes throat muscles to relax excessively thereby making it possible for the airway to become obstructed. Many people believe that nicotine patches are one of the best ways to help quit smoking.

Alcohol consumption should be decreased in general and should never be consumed three to four hours before bedtime. Drinking alcohol serves to depress the reflexes of breathing and by so doing, causes a case of sleep apnea to get worse.

Besides alcohol, it is a wise to avoid sleeping pills, tranquilizers and other medications, prescription or otherwise, that can interfere in any way with normal breathing patterns.

When you suffer allergies, throat infections or colds these can all cause narrowed airway passages and congestion in the sinuses and nose. The viruses and bacteria that cause these health problems can make sleep apnea worse.

As well medication taken for these conditions can encourage sleep apnea episodes. Speak to your doctor before taking meds for any condition that could potentially bother your breathing.

There are certain factors that may make a person more or less likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many of these factors are beyond a person’s control. Coupled with such things as excess pounds, smoking, drinking and a generally unhealthy lifestyle, it is even more likely that down the road you could become a patient of sleep apnea. Let’s take a look at factors you cannot change in regard to sleep apnea.

Age is one factor. More people thirty years and older experience sleep apnea with the highest occurrences being in men over the age of forty.

Sleep apnea is far more common in men than it is in women. It is believed that on average twelve to twenty million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Breaking this down into gender, approximately twenty-four percent of men in the general population have it while only nine percent of women do. Premenopausal women are less likely to suffer from sleep apnea then menopausal or post menopausal women and for reasons unclear to researchers, the occurrence of the sleep disorder is more evenly matched among the sexes after women are finished with menopause. Many studies have been done looking at the gender gap in relation to sleep apnea. Some studies point to the fact that it is two to three times more widespread in males than in females. However research studies done in sleep clinics across the country have shown results that men are five to six times more likely to experience this health problem.

Genetics plays a role in this disorder, however how large a role is unknown. If there is a family history of sleep apnea, whether it be males or females you are more likely to develop it at some point in your lifetime. There seems to be a genetic predisposition towards sleep apnea while people who have family history are less likely to become afflicted by it.

Race also plays a role according to researchers. Those of African American ethnicity as well as Hispanics and Pacific Islanders are more likely to develop the problem than are Caucasians. However that does not mean that Caucasians never develop it at all but it is in reduced rates in relation to other races. Black people tend to develop sleep apnea earlier in their lives than do Caucasian individuals.

Any medical condition that interferes with the breathing process can contribute to the onset of sleep apnea. In particular deformities to do with the spine such as scoliosis can cause problems and may bring it on.

Health conditions such as Down syndrome or Marfan’s syndrome that contribute to abnormalities of the head and face known as craniofacial problems can greatly increase a person’s chances of developing sleep apnea.

As mentioned earlier, menopause seems to play a role in developing sleep apnea. Women going through menopause are more likely to develop it than are younger women and the occurrence rates in the sexes are more evenly matched after menopause comes to an end.