What can I use for my snoring?

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Sarah Buchan
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Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:32 am

by Sarah Buchan on Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:01 pm

Re: What can I use for my snoring?

Hi Paul,

Thank you for posting such a topical question. Snoring actually affects as many as 1 in 4 people in England and is twice as common in men than in women, so you're not alone! I hope I may be able to suggest some treatment options which will assist.

Snoring is the snorting / rattling noise experienced during sleep and can vary from soft and infrequent to extremely loud and occur every night. Snoring is caused by the vibration of soft tissue in your head and neck as you breathe in and out druing your sleep. These vibrations can occur in the nasal passages, tonsils and soft palate on the roof of your mouth as the air pressure changes.

Your risk of snoring is increased by factors such as having a cold, being overweight, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and smoking.Treatment can improve snoring in some cases but a complete cure isn't always possible.

Usually I would recommend to my patients to try some lifestyle changes first. These include:
- losing weight (if you are overweight)
- stop smoking
- avoid alcohol consumption, particularly before you go to bed
- regular exercise - this strengthens your neck muscles which prevents the airways narrowing
- avoid sleeping on your back, try to sleep on your side.

NHS choices website also suggest wearing a top with a pocket stitched between the shoulder blades containing a tennis or golf ball. This will raise you off your back while you sleep.

There are also some anti-smoking devices available from pharmacies which may assist symptoms.

If your snoring is coming from the nose (sounding soft pinched nasal) you may benefit from a nasal device. There is limited evidence in comparing the effectiveness between these devices, most patients just use whichever they prefer:
-Nasal strips can be placed over the outside of your nose before you go to sleep. This pulls your nostrils apart, stopping them narrowing during sleep.
-The nasal dilator looks like a nose ring and is placed inside your nose before you go to sleep to push the nostrils apart.

If your snoring is more "throaty" and loud, it is probably coming from the soft tissue in your mouth, in which case you may benefit from one of the oral devices:
-Chin strips are strips of tape placed under your chin which help to stop the mouth opening during sleep.
-The vestibular shield is similar to a gum sheilf and fits inside your mouth to block the flow of air. This forces you to breathe through your nose and may prevent the opening of your mouth and subsequent snoring.

If these suggestions still do not improve symptoms I would advise you see your GP. It is possible to consider surgical options, however these are not routinely recommended. Your GP may also want to rule out any other sleep conditions such as sleep apnoea which can cause snoring as a symptom.

I hope you will find the above suggestions beneficial. Wishing you and your girlfriend a peaceful night sleep!

Kindest regards,

Sarah
Sarah Buchan
Clinical Pharmacist, Rowlands Pharmacy
http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... buchan.php

zulfia62
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:52 pm

by zulfia62 on Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:44 pm

Re: What can I use for my snoring?

My friend says that I stop breathing at night and she can distinctively hear this. I think that I have sleep apnea, as I also snore very loudly. I went to my P in Brandon but he just ignores it, saying that there is no treatment for snoring or sleep apnea. What can I do??. :(

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Justine Greenwood
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Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:41 pm

by Justine Greenwood on Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:51 am

Re: What can I use for my snoring?

Hello Zulfia,

Thank you for your post. Much of the information written by Sarah in this post will be helpful to you with the snoring and sleep apnoea.

Sleep apnoea is a condition where the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax and collapse sufficiently to cause a total or partial blockage of the airway; it is called an apnoea when the airflow is blocked for 10 seconds or more.

Lifestyle changes are the usually the first thing to try. Sarah has recommended:
- losing weight (if you are overweight)
- stop smoking
- avoid alcohol consumption, particularly before you go to bed
- regular exercise - this strengthens your neck muscles which prevents the airways narrowing
- avoid sleeping on your back, try to sleep on your side.

Additionally, I would recommend avoiding the use of sleeping tablets and tranquillisers.

If you think you have sleep apnoea, it's important to visit your GP in case you need to be referred to a sleep specialist for further tests and treatment. Perhaps you could make a further appointment with your GP?

The NHS choices website contains useful information regarding this condition which I would recommend you to read. The webpage also discusses the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnoea. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Sleep-apno ... ction.aspx

I hope this information helps,

Justine
Justine Greenwood
Learning and Development Pharmacist, Rowlands Pharmacy
http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... enwood.php

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