Is snoring affecting your life?
Ahead of National Stop Snoring Week - which begins on 23 April 2012 - Ian Myles Black, ENT Consultant of The Private Clinic and expert in the causes of and treatments for Snoring, dispels some of the myths surrounding snoring and tells us just how to get to the bottom of a problem which affects around a quarter of the population.
Try out the basics
It’s true that shedding some weight, ditching cigarettes and alcohol and reducing the amount of spicy foods and dairy consumed can all reduce the likelihood of a person snoring. Investing in a good pillow which is not too large, not too soft and getting rid of a second pillow will also help, as will trying to sleep on your side rather than on your back. However, just how far these simple diet and lifestyle changes will go will depend on the seriousness of the problem. Without getting to the route of the problem, the likelihood of banishing snoring for good, is low.
Rule out sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea is a disorder where people stop breathing periodically when they Sleep; a condition which affects around three million people in Britain, with many more undiagnosed cases. In the most severe cases the sufferer can stop breathing 30 times or more in an hour, with each pause lasting several seconds or even a few minutes.
Research released this week revealed that people with snoring-related apnoea are more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis. While there is no known cure for sleep apnoea, it should always be brought to the attention of your GP as the condition can be managed and controlled using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device which the NHS is able to provide.
Dig a little deeper
Consulting your GP if you have a problem with snoring is a good first step. The reason why snoring occurs varies and until you know and understand the ‘category’ of snorer that you are, any treatment you invest in may prove to be simply a waste of money.
Snoring can be caused by a partially blocked nasal passage. It could also be the result of a partially blocked airway in the throat or even an offset palate. Some people are ‘combination’ snorers, which mean the route of the cause lies in two or more of the above.
If consulting your GP proves ineffective, an ENT specialist will be able to tell you whether you fall into the nose, throat, palate or ‘combination’ snoring category. You will then be in a better position to manage and treat the symptoms. Diagnosis will also stop you from investing money in over-the-counter products which are inappropriate for your condition.
Think long term
If the prospect of a lifetime of snoring fills you with dread, it may be time to look into a more long term solution. A non-invasive laser treatment which clears the airways in the throat, or a laser treatment to open the nasal passage, may be suitable. Carried out under local anaesthetic, both treatments take around 30 minutes and could remove the nightmare of snoring for good.
Tagged in Health Sleep Snoring Sleeping Tips