There are various clues to the presence of this condition. The main type of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. Sufferers with this condition may snore loudly, and may be observed to stop breathing for various periods of time. To meet the criteria of OSA, the patient must have apneic episodes of greater than 10 seconds at least 10 times an hour. However, even if the person does not quite meet this definition there may be serious consequences from sleep apnea.

The OSA sufferer will have a disordered and abnormal sleep and will typically have daytime sleepiness and possibly morning headaches. Chronic OSA can lead to the development of high blood pressure, heart disease, and occasionally sudden death. Common risk factors include obesity, a thick neck, being older, male, a smoker and the use of alcohol and/or sedatives. The underlying problem is a collapse of the airway muscles during sleep with a resulting decrease in oxygenation of the blood stream.  Motor vehicle accidents are also more common due to the daytime sleepiness.

The diagnosis of OSA can be made by your physician by performing a sleep study. This study will accomplish two things. First it will confirm the diagnosis. Since the patient is typically totally unaware of his or her sleep pattern, this is extremely important. The second outcome will be to measure the airway pressure needed to counteract the collapse of the airway due to the relaxation of the muscles of the pharynx or throat. This is important for treatment with something called CPAP, explained below.

The treatment goals for OSA involve treating the underlying risk factors, using certain breathing devices to keep the airway open, and in some cases surgical correction of anatomical defects leading to a small airway.

Here are the risk factor reduction strategies:

• Weight loss as this is a major risk factor
• Smoking cessation
• Abstain from alcohol, sedative drugs, tranquillizers and other central nervous system depressants
• Change one’s sleeping posture such as sleeping on one’s back

Medical and Surgical Therapies:

• The use of oral airway appliances. The main one is called the Mandibular Advancement Device, or MAD. This device may provide some assistance in keeping the airway open. It cannot be used if the person has no teeth
• CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). This method is HIGHLY effective and involves using a device that delivers a flow of air while the person is breathing. During the sleep study, the pressure needed to do this is determined. It is typically measured in units called centimeters of water and may range from 6-14 or more. The OSA patient will wear a mask covering the nose and/or mouth connected to a machine delivering the air flow. Fortunately the newer machines are very quiet. The pressure delivered by the machine will prevent the muscles of the throat from collapsing the airway and the airway obstruction is prevented. In some cases more complicated machines are required called BiPAP which provide dual pressures during inspiration and expiration
• Surgical Procedures
  • Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy in children
  • Surgery on the back of the throat (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP)
  • Laser assisted UPPP
  • Nasal surgery
  • Tracheostomy for severe cases

OSA is a serious condition which is commonly underdiagnosed and which can have serious health consequences. If you suspect OSA, contact your physician and request an evaluation and sleep study. There are several effective treatments available which can be truly lifesaving.

First, a few definitions are in order. Sleep apnea literally means the cessation of airflow for greater than 10 seconds. Sleep apnea in turn has 3 subtypes

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This means that the cessation of breathing is actually due to the collapse of the airway due to relaxations of the muscles of the pharynx and tongue. OSA requires at least 10 episodes an hour, and there may literally be hundreds of apneic episodes during a night’s sleep.
• Central Sleep Apnea: In this condition the cessation of breathing is due to failure of the neurological system to trigger a signal to breathe
• Mixed Apnea: As implied this is a combination of Obstructive and ventral Apnea

This article will focus on the first type, OSA.

What are the symptoms that someone may be suffering from this condition? Usually there is a combination of clues offered by both the OSA sufferer as well as their bedmates. They may exhibit loud snoring, restless sleep, and witnessed episodes of not breathing which they themselves are completely unaware of. Since the sleep pattern is so disrupted the OSA sufferer may undergo personality changes and experience excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, memory problems and feelings of depression, and for men, erectile dysfunction..

But it gets worse. There are serious medical consequences related to OSA. During each one of these episodes when the OSA patient stops breathing, the oxygen level in the blood starts to drop and the level of carbon dioxide starts to climb. Fortunately this sequence is enough to trigger a breath spontaneously after a period of time. But repeated episodes night after night eventually leads to the development of high blood pressure at a rate of 2-3 times compared to someone without OSA. Another serious consequence is the lack of oxygen to the heart, which in some cases may lead to sudeen death.

Due to the poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness it is not surprising that the OSA sufferer is at increased risk for motor vehicle accidents. In twice as likely to have been in a motor vehicle accidents, or even in multiple motor vehicle accidents.

What are the risk factors that predispose someone to OSA?

• Excessive weight
• A large neck circumference of over 17.5 inches in circumference. Excessive weight and a thick neck puts an extra burden on an airway and the muscles responsible for keeping it open during sleep. However it should be noted that thin people get OSA too.
• A narrowed airway from various anatomical abnormalities involving the jaw and neck muscles and throat
• Being male
• Age over 65 (2-3 times the risk)
• A smoker (3 times the risk)
• If you have a family history of sleep apnea
• You use sedatives, alcohol, tranquillizers, or other depressants of the central nervous system

So if someone is an obese male smoker over 65 who snores and is sleepy during the day, that person is at HIGH risk of sleep apnea.

If you suspect you or your loved one may have OSA, please contact your physician. The diagnosis can be confirmed with a sleep study and fortunately there are effective treatments available to treat this condition.

You may not be able to fully stop the snoring but you will be able to find ways to alleviate the annoyances. Different remedies will have a varying success, depending on the individual. You can raise your head up on a pillow or two when you sleep, avoid alcohol, avoid dairy, lose weight, change positions when you sleep, avoid rich foods before bedtime, do not eat a big meal before sleeping, and avoid smoking. These are just a few things that you can try in order to slow the snoring process.

It is almost a guarantee that you will snore at one point in your life. This can greatly affect the quantity and quality of your sleep. Eventually this can lead a person to daytime fatigue, irritability and increased health problems. Some common causes of snoring may be age related; as a person passes middle age, the throat tends to become narrower and muscle strength decreases in your throat, causing it to relax more and to cut off the airflow when sleeping, causing snoring. It can also be caused by a sinus problem, being overweight, your build, alcohol, smoking or drug abuse.

You can make changes that can help you to reduce your snoring or eliminate it altogether. If you are prone to sinus problems, you can maintain a healthy nasal cavity by using a simple salt water saline and a neti pot. You want to stay clear of nasal sprays unless you absolutely have to use them because with extended use they can have an adverse affect and cause swelling of the membranes and possible damage to your nose. Choosing a healthy diet and maintaining your weight will also help you to sleep much better and you will notice that you will snore less. You yourself may not notice it but I am sure that if your partner doesn’t hear the chainsaw buzzing all night they will let you know the good news.

Everyone needs the solace that a good night’s sleep can bring. When these natural habits are broken you will not be the same: you will move along day to day like a zombie. Introducing exercise into your daily routine will also be a great way to rest easier at night and bring less snoring to you and your partner. You will notice that you will have to have less and less treatments as time goes by. This may not be enough for a cure but it will help you to snore less and rest more peacefully.

If you are on the overweight side you may want to consider starting out with some daily moderate exercise. As with just about any ailment walking seems to be the best solution. You will notice that once you begin a daily regimen of walking you will begin to rest a bit easier at night and not keep your partner wanting to elbow you to shut you up. This may not always work for a snorer though; doing a sleep study at a sleep clinic can give you a better idea of the cause of your snoring, therefore making it more realistic to come up with a stop snoring solution. There are so many different ways that one can find to ease snoring. Over the counter nasal sprays or nasal strips may work for some whereas some may need to elevate their heads at night.

Before you go and waste money that you don’t have on products which you have no clue whether they will work for you or not, try some self help remedies that people have been using for centuries. In the old days people relied on and believed strongly in the power of healing through natural herbal remedies that were grown in their own gardens. Herbs such as menthol, peppermint oils and coconut oils pack a punch when it comes to clearing airways thus making sleep more restful. These days you can add these aromatic herbs to vaporizers and use them in conjunction with steam therapy.

It is also helpful if you are able to change your sleeping position. If you are accustomed to laying on your back while you sleep, then the chances are that your snoring will be more severe and louder than if you are to change and sleep on your side. If you lay flat you may want to consider putting a pillow or two under your mattress to raise it to at least a thirty degree angle, to allow the air to flow more naturally. Before you go and take on drastic measures such as surgery and dental appliances, try the more natural ways to see if they will work for you. Even your doctor will recommend that you should make simple life style changes before you do anything else. Make sure that you avoid alcohol a few hours before bedtime also this will increase your snoring and possibly make it uneasy for you to sleep altogether. No matter what you decide to try, make sure that you and your doctor discuss what is right for you.

There are many different products on the market today that offer their own concept of what a stop snoring remedy should be. These work in various ways for different people. One effective stop snoring extinguisher is an elastic device that you wear around your head while you sleep that supports your lower jaw in an upward position, thereby increasing the three dimensional space in your airway. This in turn can reduce the velocity of air and soft tissue vibration in your throat.

Since there is a wide variety of devices on the market to help with your snoring, it is wise to sit and discuss all of the symptoms that you are having with your doctor so that you do not need to play a guessing game when it comes to purchasing one. These extinguishers can become very costly and doctors would probably recommend that you try an over the counter remedy first or try something herbal.

Nasal sprays have shown to be of some use; they will help clear nasal congestion that is due to common cold or allergies. Be careful using for an extended amount of time, though, because this can cause swelling and damage to the mucous membranes.

Other triggers for your loud and obnoxious snoring could be smoking, drinking, antidepressants and sleeping pills. Another type of extinguisher in these cases are those that consist of mixtures of ingredients in the extinguisher that include histaminum hydrocloricum, belladonna, hydrastis canadensis, teucrium marum, ephedra vulgaris, nux vomica, and kali bichromicum. This is used as a spray under your tongue just minutes before bedtime and the dosage depends on your weight and age. It has been known to not have any reported side effects but it is possible that you may be allergic to one of its natural ingredients. Discuss this option with your doctor before trying.

It would be wonderful if we could find a miracle drug that would stop us to stop snoring altogether but that is not realistic. We can only find relief. If the problem is that bad and the snoring shows no signs of slowing, no matter what you do then that might mean that there is a more serious problem at hand that should be addressed. It could be something so dangerous that it could be life threatening. You may need to sit and discuss all the problems that you are having with your doctor and he may see fit that you go in for a sleep study to monitor your sleep patterns and be able to list everything that could be the reason for your snoring.

Let’s put the chainsaws down at night and get a peaceful slumber. Get help today!

Before you go and throw all of your hard earned money down the drain on fancy products that you are not sure even work; make sure that you try the ones that they offer over the counter first. Pharmacies offer a variety of nasal sprays that may do the trick for your condition. A simple saline spray composed of salt and water is how you should start out. This can help you to clear your nasal passage way in a gentle way. If you have a more aggressive snoring problem that is associated with a cold and congestion or allergies, you may want to try an over the counter nasal spray such as Afrin for such conditions. This has more additives in it to break up the congestion in your nose and chest that will help you to sleep a little better with minimal snoring.

There is really no guarantee that a stop snoring spray that is on the market and advertised on TV, internet, newspaper or radio will work for you. Some of the components in the nasal spray itself may appear to work for you but that doesn’t make the spray itself a sure thing. Ingredients such as glycerin, menthol or peppermint oil mixed with a little alcohol and water may work as a gentle lubricate for the uvula, throat and tonsils. Sometimes this may also help minimize the vibrations that are associated with snoring or it may shrink the tissues in these areas.

Nasal sprays should not be used for an extended amount of time. They have been known to cause adverse affects to the body and make the condition worse. If you use them for too long they will eventually begin to cause irritation in the nasal passage therefore cause swelling of the membranes. This in turn will make breathing more difficult and possibly make snoring worse. The last thing that you want to do is add fuel to the fire. Although these nasal sprays do not pose any harm, you still should use caution when it comes to your body; no matter how small the parts may be. Before any method of treatment you really should consult with your doctor first; there may be a serious underlying medical condition that is causing you to snore.

Some of today’s ads on television promise you an instant fix for your snoring problems when in fact there is no solid guarantee. False promises are all around us on TV, the internet and even the radio. Before you get caught up in the excitement of what you are hearing, go and discuss it with your doctor and see what he has to recommend. Even surgical procedures are only 50% guaranteed and can be very expensive; most insurance policies won’t pay for it because it is considered a cosmetic or an elective procedure.

The best thing that you can do to relieve your snoring problem is to start out small and inexpensive in the beginning. This way you won’t have to invest in all of the products, only to find that they really do not work for you. If you start out trying natural herbs first such as peppermint oil, coconut oil and olive oil, you may find that this is all that you need to get a good night’s rest. These oils work wonders when added to boiling water and used as steam therapy. Neti pots have also been beneficial for opening the sinuses right up and make breathing easier. They are sold at pharmacies all over the world. Made from ceramic, metal or plastic, they  have been used for centuries. Nasal sprays and strips have been known to cut down on the zzzzz’s. But over usage of nasal sprays can have an adverse affect on you, so you need to be careful when using. The strips are a better way to go because these are placed on the bridge of your nose and pull it apart to make breathing much smoother.

Of course, you can try products that are more expensive, but are they really going to give you the relief that you so desperately are looking for? Some of the stop snoring products that are on the market today can cost hundreds even thousands of dollars by the time you are done shopping. People will stop at nothing to find a way to rest a little easier and to find a way to stop snoring, from adjustable beds, dental appliances, special pillows, nasal valve dilators and stop snoring sprays.

But some of these expensive methods can be recreated yourself. Instead of an adjustable bed and special pillow, you can raise the head of your bed by putting pillows under your mattress so that you are able to sleep at an angle and prevent your throat from collapsing and hindering your breathing. Chances are that after you spend all of this money on these products you will realize that something that costs a dollar may work better. Make sure that you do your research before impulse buying. Yes, everyone wants a good night rest but at what cost? You should not have to invest your whole savings to find relief.

There are also many other over the counter devices that can be used to help you to stop snoring. A simple saline nasal spray can work wonders; this can be purchased over the counter as well. The only thing with nasal sprays is that you need to be careful when you use them for an extended amount of time. Believe it or not, you can do a lot of damage to the nasal cavity when you continue to use these products for too long. Sometimes the things that we use to heal us, in retrospect can hurt us. The mucous membranes are very sensitive and an intricate part of the cavity. Another safe yet effective way to help us stop snoring is to use nasal strips. These are thin sticky strips that are placed on the bridge of your nose to hold open your nasal passage in order to be able to breathe easier.

Some people just are not into taking any type of medication whether it is prescribed or OTC (over the counter). Natural herbs have been known to pack quite a punch and help with all types of ailments including snoring. Peppermint oil can aid in the reduction of snoring if you rub it in under your nostrils; when you inhale this strong herb, it will help take away swelling in the membranes in your nose and make breathing easier. There are other potent oils that can do the same for you: eucalyptus oil and coconut oil.  Olive oil also can reduce the vibrations in the throat if you take 2 to 3 sips before bedtime. If you can find a natural way to help you lessen your snoring, you can avoid more harsh treatments and possiblly surgery. So why not try the easy stuff first?

People will try just about anything to rid themselves of ailments that are bothersome, and snoring is no different. Steam inhalation has been known to work wonders on the plugged sinuses that may be the cause of your snoring. You can add natural ingredients such as apple cider vinegar to get the most out of the steam therapy. You may also want to try adding sage to some boiling water to help clear up the sinuses and make breathing easier. More times than not it seems that the simpler things in life are the ones that work the best. A neti pot has been used since time immemorial and this has brought great success when it comes to clearing the sinuses, as well as fighting colds, rhinitis and allergies. It is a small pot made of ceramic, metal or plastic that you add a saline solution to flush your nasal cavity.

Also be sure to click the “Additional Articles” link at the bottom of the page for more information on snoring.

The normal process is the same as with any other ailment; consult with your doctor or dentist before anything else. They can bring all the points to light before you try to treat yourself. You have no way of telling what exactly the problems are regarding your snoring unless you are seen by a specialist. It will take an examination to decipher what exactly is causing you to snore. This is a good thing to know because now the guessing game is over and you can get right to the point and get the help stop snoring device or treatment that you need.

It is possible that you have an underlying problem that is causing you to snore; these larger disorders and health problems may need further looking into. One method that doctors find useful is a sleep clinic. This way, when you sleep they can monitor your progress and the data that they collect can tell if you have any sleeping disorder that may be a contributor to your snoring. If they see that you have what is called sleep apnea, they will be able to treat this serious sleeping disorder right away. Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing in your sleep for 10 to 90 seconds at a time. Most people catch themselves and wake up by gasping for air, snorting real loud or snoring loudly. Sleep apnea happens in one of two ways: either due narrow airways or from the brain signals that regulate your breathing. Insomnia is when a person cannot sleep or cannot stay asleep throughout the night. This can cause you to become irritable during the day, result in clumsiness, forgetfulness and even can make you lose weight.

The sleep lab will also be able to tell if you have the opposite of sleep apnea, which is called narcolepsy. This is where you fall asleep for no reason and at any time. The tests that the lab performs can also tell if you are a bed wetter, sleepwalker or suffer from night terrors. Believe it or not, they can also tell if your problems with sleeping may be due to the fact that you’re a shift worker and working crazy hours is making you more susceptible to sleep issues.

Other minor factors can play a role when it comes to snoring problems. They may not be hazardous to your health, just very annoying to you and those around you. You may be a sufferer of periodic limb movement disorder and not realize it. This is a condition to where you have repeated muscle twitching of your legs, arms or feet while you are in a slumber. Any time that your sleep repeatedly becomes interrupted, you are at risk for snoring problems. You and your doctor need to sit down and discuss any health issues that you may have and have the right tests run to get to the bottom of the problem. They will then be able to treat you accordingly and maybe, just maybe, you will get the much needed sleep that you need to be able to function properly.

Also be sure to click the “Additional Articles” link at the bottom of the page for more information on snoring.

Rather than spending unnecessary funds on products that you have no idea whether they work or not, consider making simple changes first. The best stop snoring remedy is the one that you find that works for you naturally. Life style changes can be done easily and at no cost to you the way the products that marketers sell you will. If you exercise and eat right, you will notice that your unwanted pounds will start to shed. This will take the pressure off that was due to the fat on your throat and diaphragm and make it easier to breathe; snoring will be greatly reduced. Other simple changes can also make a huge difference. Changing your body’s position in bed and buying a better supporting mattress and pillow will help to alleviate snoring.

There are other habits that you should break if you are trying to get rid of your snoring problems. Smoking definitely hinders your breathing and quitting will reduce snoring. Alcohol is another culprit that can make it harder to breathe correctly at night; this is because the tongue relaxes more when you sleep and blocks off the air passage. Dairy has been shown to make you snore more; this is because of the thickness of the food and the over production of mucous which causes congestion and snoring. If you are aware of these antagonists, then you can try to avoid them in order for you and those around you to sleep better. There is an exception to the dairy rule however. Even though yogurt is in the dairy “family” the benefits outweigh the negatives. Eating yogurt will help strengthen your immune system and reduce sickness and congestion.

There are over the counter fast relievers that can help you temporarily. Nasal sprays can create immediate relief but after an extended amount of use they will start to have an adverse affect on your breathing by causing swelling, so you need to take warning regarding that method of treatment. Nasal strips are better for extended usage. They allow for the nose to stay open better and air to flow more naturally to reduce the annoyances of snoring. Adding a humidifier or a vaporizer to improve air quality will also help to reduce the congestion and reduce snoring.

There are more aggressive methods to help you stop snoring and these can be purchased in stores. Chin straps are used to hold your mouth shut at night to force you to breathe through your nose, instead of mouth breathing which will make the snoring worse. Oral devices can help make your mouth line up better and reconstruct the mouth structure, also reducing snoring. In more severe cases some have opted for surgical procedures when all else fails. It is possible that the cause of their snoring is due to soft tissue at the roof of the mouth, crooked tongues, a deviated septum or another form of an obstruction that is causing snoring.

Whatever your snoring ailment there is some sort of stop snoring remedy out there; you just need to figure out what exactly you are dealing with.

Also be sure to click the “Additional Articles” link at the bottom of the page for more information on snoring.