Snoring!!!

Geri_Berri · **Geri_Berri**

Snoring triggers

The main triggers for snoring are:
being overweight
smoking
drinking too much alcohol
fatty tissue around the neck
allergies.

Snore solutions

Dr Hugh Bethell, a GP from Aldermaston, says the first stage is to get the patient to lose weight and stop smoking. 'And of course, reduce their alcohol intake, particularly late in the evening.' Too much alcohol disturbs and alters the pattern of sleep, and people who drink too much tend to sleep on their back – another cause of snoring.

'If you get them to lie on their sides, that’s helpful, and there’s all sorts of home remedies for doing that – tennis ball in the back of the pyjama jacket. That’s pretty effective!' he says.

It’s also vital to make sure you have the appropriate remedy. The only treatment for tongue-based snoring is a mandibular advancement device, says Marianne. This is a small plastic splint worn in the mouth at night and looks a bit like orthodontic braces.

Open mouth snoring can use 'chin up strips' which stop the mouth from dropping open and for those with nasal stuffiness, nasal dilators and sprays can help.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is another option. This treatment for sleep apnoea can also be effective for snorers.

Drastic measures

'Finally there’s surgery,' says Dr Bethell. 'There are various things they can do, but they basically try and widen the nasal pharynx and remove the uvula.' However, he adds that it’s 'fairly unpleasant'.

Marianne agrees that an operation is a last resort. 'There is a place for surgery, but you have to be absolutely certain that you’ve tried everything else first and that there’s a good chance it’s going to work for you,' she advises. The only way you’ll know that is to have an overnight sleep study. Also, ask the surgeon why he is recommending surgery, what his success rate is, and what he deems a success.

People can also get referred to a sleep centre by their GP, says Dr Bethell. There, a person is connected to non-painful physiological sensors, such as scalp, facial and chest electrodes, to study various aspects like sleeping pattern, levels of oxygen in the blood and brainwaves.

Snoring diagnosis

It’s best to get disturbing snoring sorted out. In some cases, if left un-addressed, it can develop into sleep apnoea, which requires medical treatment. New research also suggests snoring may have a link to chronic headaches.

While many people will go to their GP, Marianne says self-diagnosis is simple. The association has an information pack that explains the tests a person can do in front of the mirror. But for those with multi-factoral snoring, where snoring might be originating from different areas, it’s probably best to see a GP.

'At the end of the day, there is a resolution for everybody,' says Marianne. However, they will have to work at it. 'I’m afraid there is no quick fix,' she says.

Source - http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/features/snoring_003729.htm

I got my man some snore strips that are placed over the nose they help a lot :)