Helpful Hints on the Path Towards Silent Slumber

Admit Snoring is a Problem

Snoring, although often joked about, is a serious condition. More than 90 million Americans are affected by snoring and 23% of couples ultimately sleep apart due to snoring and other sleep related disorders.It is a leading cause of relationship issues and health problems, including substantially decreased longevity associated with lack of quality sleep. Also linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and signs and symptoms of depression, your snoring is not just a noisy nuisance. Your health and well-being are at risk. Photo: Getty Images

Take a Closer Look

Understanding the characteristics of your snoring is important. Ask your bed partner to get involved and raise some important questions like: “Does my snoring occur every night or only some of the time? Do you ever hear me snort, gasp or choke in my sleep? Do I stop breathing? How often does that occur?”. Look deeply into how your snoring is impacting your daily routine, as snoring may be indicative of a more serious condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Asking yourself questions like: “Am I excessively tired during the day? Do I often wake up with morning headaches? Do I ever feel the urge to fall asleep when I am driving?”. If the answer is yes to any or all of these questions it can be a key indicator that may suggest you are suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). For a closer look, you may wish to complete an Epworth Sleepiness Scale or the Berlin Questionnaire–two commonly used screening tools for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Photo: Getty Images

Talk with Your Bed Partner

Communication is often touted as the key to a successful relationship. When it comes to snoring, this age-old advice still rings true. If you snore, you should discuss your condition with your bed partner. You may be surprised by what they say. Sleeping with a snorer not only interferes with the quality of sleep; snoring can also interfere with relationships. Succeeding nights of subpar shut eye can be a major source of anger and resentment. The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine recently reported that snoring is the third leading cause of divorce in America, closely behind financial strain and infidelity. Those nudges, kicks and jabs from your bed partner in the middle of the night, and the barrage of complaints the next morning, should not be taken lightly. Snoring impacts your life. Photo: Getty Images

Identify the Source

Medical research suggests that most people have more than one anatomical source of their snoring or sleep apnea. The vibration of tissues in your soft palate, nose, tongue, uvula and hypopharynx, and more often than not a combination of these, may ultimately be causing you to snore. Lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol and tobacco use can also aggravate the condition. Because the condition of snoring is complex, it is important to seek medical advice from a sleep and snoring specialist. A thorough examination of your anatomy, and in some cases a sleep study, can help discover once and for all the factors causing your particular condition. Photo: Getty Images

Research a Solution

The television and internet are inundated with advertisements for gimmicks and gadgets that promise a simple cure for snoring. Don’t be surprised if these products over promise and under deliver. The United States Air Force recently conducted a study testing 300 of the most popular over-the-counter snore remedies, like nose strips, straps and sprays. The results showed that zero of the 300 tested remedies actually worked. But all hope is not lost - medically proven, FDA-Approved, minimally invasive treatments for snoring and sleep apnea are gaining popularity in snoring and sleep medicine. Twoexamples of such procedures are the Pillar Procedure® and nasal turbinate reduction using Coblation® technology. These simple in-office treatments can often be performed in less than 30 minutes, with little to no discomfort or downtime, and can be very effective in appropriate candidates. Photo: Getty Images