Snoring (cont.)
What are some non-surgical treatments for snoring?
The main categories of non-surgical treatment of snoring are:
Behavioral changes
Behavioral changes are the easiest to identify, but some of the hardest to
accomplish. For example, if a person gains ten pounds, his or her snoring may become a
problem. It is easy to tell a person to lose the ten pounds, but it is difficult
to accomplish. Behavioral changes include
weight loss, changing sleeping
positions, avoiding alcohol, smoking cessation, and changing medications that
may be the cause of snoring.
Losing weight may improve snoring. Snoring usually is worse when lying flat
on the back, as discussed previously. To help this problem, a pocket can be sewn
into the back of the snorer's pajama tops. A tennis or golf ball in the pocket
will "encourage" the snorer to roll over to sleep on his/her side. Alcohol or
sedative medications make snoring worse, and therefore should be avoided.
Dental devices
As previously discussed, snoring is exacerbated by normal airflow through a
narrowed area in the throat. Part of the narrowing is caused by the tongue and
palate falling back during sleep. Some dental devices have been developed that
hold the jaw forward. Since the tongue is attached in the front to the jaw, the
tongue also is held forward when these devices are used. Some devices are
designed to hold the palate up and forward.
All dental devices (similar to a mouthpiece) are best made by a dentist to
ensure a correct fit without causing problems. These devices may improve snoring
in 70% to 90% of cases. There are some drawbacks to dental devices, however.
They must be worn every night in order to work, can cause or exacerbate
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, can cause excessive salivation, and can
be moderately expensive.
The available data on some of these devices revealed both subjective and
objective improvement in snoring. These devices may be appropriate and
recommended for those individuals with primary snoring or mild obstructive sleep
apnea who did not benefit or did not qualify for the aforementioned behavioral
changes.
Nasal devices and medications
For people with narrow nasal passages, snoring can be alleviated with nasal
devices or medications. Breath-rite strips open the anterior nasal valve (front
part of the nose). If this is the main or only area of narrowing, snoring may
improve with use of these strips, but this is frequently not the case.
If nasal mucosal (lining) swelling from
allergies or irritation is causing
the problem, nasal sprays may help. Nasal saline irrigation spray is a way to
clean and moisturize the nasal lining since environmental irritants that stay in
the nose (dust, pollen, and smoke) continue to irritate as long as they are
present. The nasal lining also swells when it is cold and dry. Nasal saline
helps to wash away irritants and moisturizes the mucosa without side effects.
Other nasal sprays that may be used to improve nasal breathing include nasal
steroid sprays and nasal decongestants. They are very helpful for swelling due
to minor allergies or irritation. Steroid sprays decrease inflammation in the
nasal passages. Very little of the steroid is absorbed into the body from the
nose so there are few side effects with these sprays. Nasal decongestants that
shrink the blood vessels in the turbinates also can be used to improve snoring
that results from nasal congestion.
These measures may also be helpful for people who only snore when they have
upper respiratory infections or colds, which typically cause swelling of the
airway passages.
Nasal CPAP
CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure is a device that is commonly used
in patients with a clinical diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. This device
works by providing a constant, increased air pressure to prevent airway
narrowing during inspiration and expiration. It entails wearing a mask that is
connected by tubing to a pump that keeps the pressure of the inspired air at a
higher than normal level.
This device has proven to cause subjective and objective improvement of
snoring and other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. The air pressures are
adjusted individually for each patient based on their parameters of a sleep
study.
The main problem with CPAP is that the CPAP machine is bulky, noisy, and
possibly uncomfortable for patients to wear all night, every night. Therefore,
patient adherence to the use of CPAP often is not optimal.
Over-the-counter products for snoring
There are many other simple over the counter products available to help with
snoring. Generally, they may not be scientifically studied and recommended. They
may be useful in some people subjectively. Regardless, if snoring exists, then
it needs to be fully evaluated by a physician to assure that there is no
underlying potential medical condition and to choose a proven method of
treatment.
Next: What are the surgical options for snoring? »
- Questions To Ask Before Surgery - Surgery questions to ask prior to having a procedure are important. Your surgeon should be available to answer your surgery questions prior to the procedure.
- Sleep Apnea - Learn about sleep apnea, including a description of types of sleep apnea, causes, complications, diagnosis, evaluation, treatments (surgical and non-surgical), and importance of treatment.
- Oximetry - Learn about oximetry, a procedure that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. This test is frequently performed to evaluate the function of the heart and lungs.
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