Snoring

[Howdya do that]

SWMBO is up my ribs about me snoring apperently it is getting worse:(

There are a myriad of gadgets that go up your nose, on your nose even surgery. Has anybody had any success:?

Hope this is not considered drivel. she is considering kicking me out:o

[bitingmidge]

It's not a fix-all, but it worked for me... At a certain age, the male of the species becomes a little more ... err robust than he once was. If you've got a bit of a tummy that you once didn't have that could be part of the problem! :wink:

A little exercise, take care with your diet, get rid of those big tummy bones and the fat in your throat goes too!

A few k's a day on the bike and a few less fizzy drinks will do the trick!

Cheers,

P
:D :D :D

[Grunt]

Not so much the weight for me. I drink very little alcohol these days and I don't snore any more.

Still at 40, it's a good time to get on yer bike. You'll feel heaps better for it.

[Rocker]

A friend of mine has sleep apnoea, which means you omit to breathe when sleeping deeply; he wears a face mask and an air-pump when sleeping, which cures the snoring problem, and ensures that his brain gets enough oxygen. I suggest you consult your doctor about it. It can be a serious condition.

Rocker

[Gumby]

I only snore when I'm asleep so it isn't really a problem for me. :wink:

[Gingermick]

Try putting a piece of tape over your mouth when you go to sleep. This will force you to breathe through your nose and dramatically reduce the volume of air you breathe and stop those loose things flapping around and making you snore.
check this out
http://www.buteykohealth.com.au/
It worked for me.

[Bluegum]

I have heard of this before as a metod to train you to breathe through your your nose while asleep. I had my sinus's board out last year and its seems to have worked a bit as well. Not the most comfortable thing to have done but it has slowed me up a bit. The ENT also wanted to remove my tonsils as he claimed it was a 75% chance of curing me.

[Waldo]

G'day Howdya,

I'm with Rocker. My green-vitamin-drinking-anytime-in-the-shed-is-a-good-time mate across the road has sleep apnea, each night he connects the whatsit up and :2tsup: problem solved.

It has an added benefit which he swears by. He can drink more than a few, pop the mask on and the next day he won't have a hang over, forget to pop it on and he has the mother of all hang overs. :2tsup:

[Gingermick]

breathe through your your nose while asleep

All the time


each night he connects the whatsit up

Called a CPAP machine (Constant positive air pressure) and they can't be comfortable.

[Poppa]

I'm with bitingmidge. I snore if I let myself start to get too fat. And I snore more if I have a few drinks. If I lose a bit of weight and exercise more, the snoring goes away. The difference of 5 kg is all it takes.

I've got two mates who hook up to CPAPs every night, and while it keeps them alive and allows them to get a good sleep and stops the snoring, it is like wearing an alien breathing mask. Not a good look I reckon, and not something that I want to chain myself to for the rest of my days. Just as a by the by, both of those mates are very overweight, which IMHO is not coincidental.

[wheelinround]

I'm with bitingmidge. I snore if I let myself start to get too fat. And I snore more if I have a few drinks. If I lose a bit of weight and exercise more, the snoring goes away. The difference of 5 kg is all it takes.

I've got two mates who hook up to CPAPs every night, and while it keeps them alive and allows them to get a good sleep and stops the snoring, it is like wearing an alien breathing mask. Not a good look I reckon, and not something that I want to chain myself to for the rest of my days. Just as a by the by, both of those mates are very overweight, which IMHO is not coincidental.

I agree I went from 102k's to 96k's and the snoring eased lost a further 4k's and I am sleeping better all I did was use the exercise bike for 20 to 30 minutes a day stretching exercises.................oh yeh and an inversion bed/backswing helped my back a treat too.
Its all about circulation.:D

[manoftalent]

Sleep Disorders: Snoring




Snoring is a common condition that can affect all people at any age, although it occurs more frequently in men and people who are overweight. Snoring has a tendency to worsen with age. Forty-five percent of adults snore occasionally, while 25% are considered habitual snorers.
Occasional snoring is usually not very serious and is mostly a nuisance for the bed partner of the person who snores. However, the habitual snorer not only disrupts the sleep patterns of those close to him, he also disturbs his own. Habitual snorers snore whenever they sleep and are often tired after a night of what seems like quality rest. Medical assistance is usually needed for habitual snorers to get a good night's sleep.
What Causes Snoring?

Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is physically obstructed. The walls of the throat vibrate during breathing, resulting in the distinctive sounds of snoring. Air flow can be obstructed by a combination of factors, including:

Obstructed nasal airways: Partially blocked nasal passages require extra effort to transfer air through them. This can pull together or collapse the non-rigid soft and dangling tissue of the throat, resulting in snoring. Some people snore only during allergy seasons or when they have a sinus infection. Deformities of the nose such as a deviated septum (a structural change in the wall that separates one nostril from the other) or nasal polyps can also cause obstruction.
Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue: Throat and tongue muscles can be too relaxed, which allows them to collapse and fall back into the airway. This can result from deep sleep, alcohol and some sleeping pills. Normal aging causes further relaxation of these muscles.
Bulky throat tissue: Being overweight can cause bulky throat tissue. Also, children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore.
Long soft palate and/or uvula: A long soft palate or a long uvula (the dangling tissue in back of the mouth) can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat. When these structures vibrate and bump against one another, the airway becomes obstructed causing snoring.What Are the Health Risks Associated With Snoring?

Habitual snorers can be at risk for serious health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea (http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/Sleep-Apnea/sleep-apnea) is an illness that is often associated with chronic snorers. This condition creates several problems, including:

Long interruptions of breathing (more than 10 seconds) during sleep caused by partial or total obstruction or blockage of the airway. Serious cases can have total blockage episodes hundreds of times per night.
Frequent waking from sleep, even though he or she may not realize it.
Snorers with obstructive sleep apnea sleep lightly to try to keep their throat muscles tense enough to maintain airflow.
Blood oxygen levels are often lowered, which causes the heart to pump harder and blood pressure to rise. The result is a poor night's sleep, which leads to drowsiness during the day and can interfere with the persons quality of life. Prolonged suffering from obstructed sleep apnea will result in higher blood pressure and may cause enlargement of the heart, with higher risks of heart attack and stroke
What Treatments Are Available?

If you occasionally snore, you can try the following behavior changes to help control the problem:

Lose weight and improve your eating habits.
Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antihistamines before you go to bed.
Avoid alcohol, heavy meals, or snacks at least four hours before you sleep.
Establish regular sleeping patterns. For example, try to go to bed at the same time every night.
Sleep on your side rather than on your back.
Tilt the head of your bed up four inches.If none of the above mentioned behavioral changes help, talk to your doctor. Otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors) offer a variety of treatment options that may reduce or eliminate snoring or sleep apnea.
There are more than 300 devices on the market to help prevent snoring; however, none of these devices address all of the underlying anatomical problems that cause snoring (such as nasal obstruction and being overweight). Surgery may be needed to correct physical problems, and include:

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): A surgical treatment that tightens and restructures the flabby tissues in the throat and palate. This is often prescribed for people who have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Laser-assisted uvula palatoplasty (LAUP): A laser procedure removes the airway obstruction. This treatment is performed under local anesthesia in a doctor's office and is intended for snorers and for people with mild obstructive sleep apnea.
Somnoplasty: This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radio frequency energy to shrink excessive tissue in the palate, uvula, and tongue tissue. This treatment can also be used to relieve nasal obstruction.
Genioglossus and hyoid advancement: This is a surgical treatment for sleep apnea which prevents the collapse of the lower throat by pulling the tongue forward.
Septoplasty and turbinate surgery: This is a surgical treatment to reduce the resistance to the flow of air through the nose.
Tonsillectomy: Removing the tonsils and adenoids may be needed to prevent snoring, particularly in children.Other Treatment Options

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): A patient may be fitted with a nasal mask which forces air through the upper airway. The air pressure is adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the upper airway tissues from collapsing during sleep. The pressure is constant and continuous. This should help the person breathe better and sleep through the night.
the article was for public viewing at www.webmd.com (http://www.webmd.com)

[Neal]

I have to give snore stop a plug (do not have anything to do with them other than use there product) it works for me ,it is like a mouth guard but has adjustable protrusions on it that pull your bottom jaw forward a little you can still open close your mouth talk kind of "mumble anyway" .Not saying it will work for every one but I saw an add for it & realized if I breath through my nose & push my bottom jaw out I get a stack more air through & that is obviously the princible! they use . Like I said it works for me probably 80-90% better than without it .
Neal

[Ashore]

Get some of those foam ear plugs, my shmbo swears by them , puts them in her ears each night and if my snoring gets so loud that she can still hear me takes them out and shoves one in each of my nostrels , apperantly they work well cause I stop snoring :D

[munruben]

I only snore when I'm asleep so it isn't really a problem for me. :wink:
You could always sleep in another room if it becomes a problem though. :D

[jerryc]

I have sleep apnoea and have a CPAP machine and mask.
Perhaps it's best to sort out a few misunderstandings. Yes being overweight and unfit and/or drinking can cause snoring but anyone who snores should see a respiratory specialist as many GPs are not aware of the dangers of sleep apnoea. Through your GP get a referral to a respiratory specialist who if necessary will arrange a proper sleep test at a sleep unit.
I have always maintained a good state of fitness, drink socially and have not been massively overweight but a sleep test showed I stopped breathing about twenty times a night sometimes for about thirty seconds.
This snoring business is no joke. How often has one heard about a person dying in their sleep? Chances are it was sleep apnoea.
Another thing I was told by the specialist was that these breathing lapses do put a strain on the heart and anyone with a high blood pressure is at risk.
Modern masks properly adjusted are not uncomfortable and modern machines are very quiet.
Hope my experience will help.

[Grahame Collins]

[QUOTE=Gingermick;531075
Called a CPAP machine (Constant positive air pressure) and they can't be comfortable.[/QUOTE]

They are not,They are decidedly uncomfortable and comparable to having a squid stuck to your face all night. Its a love hate relationship,because arising in the AM without a stinking thumping hangover like headache from oxygen starvation is much preferable,so I put up with looking like Darth Vader.

If you don't breathe enough you get short changed on your oxygen content.Tiredness, a lack of energy and poor mental acuity result. oops -may that tell you a thing or too about me then!.

My better half approves as well ,she gets a nights sleep to boot.
If you snore badly and have those symptoms get a check up,as some quite serious complications can arise as a result of untreated sleep apnoea.
Grahame

[Greg Q]

+1 for CPAP machines.

I have used one for about nine years now, both fit and fat. The early masks were worse than the disorder...face full of squid as Grahame says is about right.

The new mask/machine that I've had for a couple of years is very good...quiet and comfortable. I now wake up as refreshed and energetic. Waking up that way provides enough energy to actually excercise and help reduce the weight. Snoring and apnoea do the opposite...being chronically fatigued leads to depression and lethargy which leads to more weight gain.

Add my vote to those recommending a sleep study. Untreated apnoea can rob you of many years of life-those adrenalin events in the night do nothing good for your heart.

["Makin Sawdust"]

Hi all, Just came across this thread & have to add my 2 bobs worth! I too continually heard from SWMBO that I snored all the time, then I started to stop breathing for varying periods. I guessed the problem (had read a bit about sleep apnea) & promptly consulted my GP. He was up to speed on snoring & it's complications & reffered me to a specialist. A sleep test prved the diagnosis & a CPAP machine was prescribed & purchased. The difference in my life is amazing. Previously I could retire at 6.00 PM or 2.00 or 3.00 & still feel totally exhausted next morning. My blood pressure & Cholesterol levels have dropped & I have much more energy. Looking & feeling like Darth Vader is a small sacrifice when you look at the benefits. I keep promising myself that I will start riding the bike & getting more fit, one day I hope, at least I have the bike out of the shed & have repaired it. Enough of my talk, but, anyone out there who is snoring, GET A SLEEP TEST the result could be very sobering! Cheers, LES.

[prozac]

I'm with GUMBY, the snoring doesn't bother me either!

[jerryc]

prozac.

In answer to your comment that it doesn't bother you Just remember that snoring, among other nasty health effects does restrict the flow of blood to the brain.

jerry

[Gingermick]

so I put up with looking like Darth Vader

I'll send you a pm when there is another buteyko course on. (I get letters) They do a free seminar for an hour or so.
I would encourage anyone with with apnoea or asthma to go to a buteyko seminar.

[wheelinround]

May I suggest you set up a sound recording device which is auto on when sound happens you'll be surprised at what you record.

But make sure SWMBO doens't know about it other wise she will stay awake all night so you don't catch her snoring also.

[Allan at Wallan]

My wife snores so loudly it makes the bed
vibrate. I complained so much she suggested
I move into another room.

I can still hear her even with her TV going
and I am two rooms away.

Move into another room! - I reckon I could
move into another suburb and it would make
no difference.

Allan

_________________________________

I am not at all worried about dying
... but just hope I am not there at the time.

[jerryc]

grahame, may the force be with you.

In all seriousness however if you are having mask problems check out the latest offerings from Resmed. They have one which has just two small tubes entering the nose, similar to the oxygen tubes you see in all the hospital soapies. Also it pays to have regular checks. I was diagnosed three years ago and had a sleep test. Last night I went back to the sleep unit for a check up and found the pressure needs re-adjustment.

Also to those who treat this matter lightly what happened yesterday at the sleep unit might change your mind.

I met a guy whose GP had sent him for a test because he had slightly high blood pressure and snored. When I left this morning he didn't. He was waiting to see a cardiologist for further tests.

Jerry

[prozac]

prozac.

In answer to your comment that it doesn't bother you Just remember that snoring, among other nasty health effects does restrict the flow of blood to the brain.

jerry

And I thought it was just the grog.

[prozac]

Ok. OK! Before your collective bloods boil. That was insensitive of me and I regret the post. Well I don't regret it, but it was insensitive when I can see that you blokes are really trying to spread the word about the dangers and ill effects of snoring.
Perhaps some of us will even decide to heed your advice and do something about it, but I think for most it is one of those things you tend to put off, like the prostate test.

[jerryc]

prozac

I knew your comment was an attempt to instil a little lightness into the discussion. Mine was a cheap shot that I couldn't resist. I should know better at my age but humour is such a personal thing.

Jerry

[Grahame Collins]

Well I did it,
$300 later I am the proud owner of a new Resmed Quattro Mask.
Does the fancy name and price make it better than the old one?
Well ? maybe a little bit! The hook up, to put it on one's noggin is mucho improved and the cushion is easier to refit after cleaning. And the exhaust for want of a better term is much quieter.

8 years after donning the first one I would expect that the fit of the current model to be so very much better than it is. It still feels like a squid stuck to my face. I wake up with welts in my face. It must be the shape of my head.

Grahame the Darth Vader impersonator

[jerryc]

Grahame, DVI

The welts you mention might be the result of having the attaching straps too tightly adjusted.. I found I needed several attempts to get the fit of the mask right. The nurse down here in Melb was on the ball and gave me a great deal of help in this area. Worth the effort

Jerry