Why Do I Wake Up With A Sore Throat?

Waking up with a sore throat may be a sign of snoring

It’s 6:00 am and you wake up with a sore throat. The first thought that comes to mind is that you may be coming down with a cold, but you don’t have time to deal with being sick. You have a very busy day at work, the kids have soccer practice after school and you have to spend the evening preparing for an important meeting tomorrow morning. Within the next couple hours, your sore throat simply disappears and everything returns to normal.

Does this scenario sound familiar? Each morning, millions of people wake up with a sore throat not knowing exactly what’s causing it. A sore throat in the morning is typically an indication that some type of throat irritation has occurred overnight. While there are several possibilities including Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), snoring is often the culprit.

How Snoring Can Cause A Morning Sore Throat

So, a sore throat that occurs only in the morning may be caused by snoring? How does this occur? There are actually a few explanations as to why snoring happens and how it causes a sore throat.

The first explanation is that for one reason or another, sinus passages become blocked. Common reasons for blocked sinus passages include seasonal allergies which cause inflammation, a sinus infection, nasal polyps, or a deviated septum. When this occurs, our bodies recognize that an alternative path for air to travel is needed. If the sinuses are clogged or obstructed, the mouth is called upon for back up. Throughout the night, the mouth hangs wide open and begins to dry out and become irritated. Air moving past a dry soft palate or uvula can cause this tissue within the airway to strike against each other, causing further irritation as well as the sound of snoring.

Another reason why snoring may be causing a sore throat is due to having poor muscle tone in the throat area. While asleep, the tongue and jaw both relax and fall backward, causing resistance within the airway. The effects are often compounded if a person consumes alcohol, smokes, or uses sedative prior to falling asleep which further relax the tongue and cause more of an obstruction. Furthermore, those who are overweight may find that extra fat around the neck causes further narrowing of the airway. Air that passes through a narrow airway will cause the tissues within the airway to collide. Those who snore due to an airway restriction sometimes sleep with their mouth open which causes the airway to dry out and become irritated.

Whether snoring is caused by obstructed sinuses or an obstructed airway, the end result is a dried out and irritated throat. The drier the airway becomes, the greater the intensity of snoring and morning sore throats become worse. It’s a vicious cycle that continues night after night.

5 Ways To Prevent A Sore Throat That Is Caused By Snoring

While snoring is often the cause of a morning sore throat, this is not always the case. Since every individual’s circumstances may differ, it’s critical that you schedule an appointment with your doctor who can further evaluate chronic morning sore throat as well as any other symptoms that you may be experiencing alongside a sore throat. It’s possible that a sore throat may be an indication of not only snoring but Obstructive Sleep Apnea which requires treatment from a physician. There are also a number of other conditions that may cause a morning sore throat such as acid reflux. Because several possibilities do exist, a professional medical examination should be conducted.

If after visiting your doctor they agree that simple snoring is causing your morning sore throats, there are several methods that can be used to reduce snoring and keep your airway moist throughout the night.

Stay Hydrated

One of the best ways to prevent your throat from drying out is to ensure that you are getting enough water each day. A surprising number of people spend their days dehydrated which can not only contribute to a dry mouth while asleep and ultimately snoring, but it can also cause numerous health problems. A lack of water causes the mucous membranes within your throat to dry out and become irritated.

Most of us live busy lives which makes staying hydrated a constant challenge. Make water a part of your daily routine by using these helpful tips.

Clear The Congestion

If snoring is being caused by sinus congestion, tackle the problem by clearing your sinuses. As mentioned, clogged sinuses cause mouth breathing and ultimately a dried throat, snoring, and a sore throat. Reduce the congestion and resume normal breathing through your mouth.

If seasonal allergies are causing congestion, consider using a nasal spray, decongestant or prescription drug to clear your sinuses. There are also other remedies such as the use of a vapor rub or perhaps run a dehumidifier. Also, consider the use of powerful essential oils such as eucalyptus.

Also, think about using a dehumidifier to help clear up congestion and lubricate the airway.

Nasal Strips or Nasal Cones

Nose cones can help to clear collapsed nasal passages

Another remedy that can assist with sinus congestion is the use of nasal strips or nasal cones. Nasal strips fit on the outside of the nose and attach to the skin. They essentially physically pull the nostrils open using the bridge of the nose for leverage which increases the volume of airflow. Nasal strips can only be used once, so a monthly supply of disposables may be necessary.  Similarly, nasal dilators or nose cones achieve the same results but are placed inside of the nose to help open up the nostrils. Unlike nasal strips, dilators or cones can be used several times as long as good hygiene is practiced.

Try A Chinstrap

Chinstraps, often referred to as snoring chinstraps, can be a helpful tool that one can use to combat open mouth snoring. If your sore throat is being caused because your mouth hangs open at night, you may want to consider using a chinstrap. It is very important to mention that a chinstrap should only be used if your sinuses are free of obstruction. If your sinuses are clogged, you will need to allow your mouth to remain open throughout the night to ensure proper breathing so a chinstrap cannot be used.

A chinstrap is typically made from a neoprene material and wraps around the head and jaw to help hold the mouth closed while asleep.

Snoring Mouthpiece

Mouthpieces are a highly effective anti snoring tool

Snoring that originates within the airway, causing a morning dry throat in the morning can often be resolved using a snoring mouthpiece.

Snoring mouthpieces are one of my favorite anti-snoring products simply because they are easy to use and extremely effective. They fit inside of the mouth and hold the jaw and tongue forward which prevents restriction within the airway. Many mouthpieces come with holes at the front which allow some air to enter, so if you are a mouth breather this should not be an issue.

There are several different products on the market, so deciding which one to choose can become a chore. I put together a ranked list of mouthpieces base on personal experience which should help to make the decision easier.

A Summary Of Thoughts On Sore Throats Caused By Snoring

There are several possibilities as to why you may wake up with a sore throat in the morning, snoring being very likely. Before assuming that dry mouth and snoring is the cause of a morning sore throat, first speak with your doctor who can make this determination. If they determine that snoring is the cause, there are several remedies such as hydration, decongestants, nasal dilators, chinstraps or a mouthpiece that can help to prevent snoring and ensure that you wake up a sore throat free.

All About Stop Snoring Pills

In western medicine, we have a pill for nearly every ailment, so it’s quite common for people to seek a pill or tablet for one of the most common issues faced in the American household – snoring.

With no shortage of demand for such a product, several companies have stepped up to the plate and seized the opportunity to provide a snoring solution that comes in a pill form. The claim is that popping a pill or two before bed will allow you and your partner to enjoy a quiet night of sleep without the sound of snoring. Do stop snoring pills really work or are they simply another snake oil? We will closely examine stop snoring pills and offer our recommendation on the use of them.

What Exactly Are Stop Snoring Pills?

Anti-snoring pills have been sold under various names such as Snorestop, Snoring Shush, and Snorez. Most products claim to be a homeopathic snoring solution that is safe to use and recommended by pharmacist and doctors. Some even claim to have published medical research proving their effectiveness although we were unable to locate any such research.

What exactly do snoring pills contain that stops snoring? While some manufacturers list their ingredients others give little to no information and state that the ingredients are “proprietary”.

The majority of pills and tablets contain herbal ingredients that are mixed together in somewhat of a bizarre fashion. Examples of ingredients often found in snoring pills are Belladonna, Ephedra Vulgaris, Histaminum Hydrochloricum, Hydrastis, Magnesium Stearate, Gambir, and Cassia. Some ingredients such as Belladonna can be toxic at certain levels, although they are commonly diluted enough for homeopathy use.

Anti-snoring pills are typically inexpensive, ranging in price from $10-$20 for a 30 day supply.

How Do They Work?

How exactly does a stop snoring pill work? There are usually one of two different claims that are commonly offered by manufacturers who sell such products.

In some cases, snoring is caused by inflamed nasal passages and airway. With inflammation, breathing is often restricted which can actually cause the sound of snoring. This occurs when air tries to make it’s way through a narrow opening, causing the surrounding airway tissue to collide with each other. Some of the herbal ingredients that are often listed are known to help reduce inflammation. By eliminating inflammation, the airway opens up and the sound of snoring ceases.

Other products claim to work by reducing the amount of mucus in the airway and nasal passages. The reason why this approach may work is that mucus, especially mucus that is excessive and thick, within the airway but may actually cause airway tissue to stick together.

Do Snoring Pills Actually Work?

How far fetched are these claims? Can an herbal blend that reduces inflammation and keeps mucus at bay really help to reduce or eliminate snoring? The answer is yes, it’s possible but it is unlikely to work for most people. The reason being is that while reducing inflammation and mucous does help with snoring, snoring pills are unable to confront the most common area in which snoring occurs.

In the majority of cases, snoring is caused when breathing becomes restricted due to a partially collapsed airway which restricts airflow. There are a number of reasons why the airway becomes collapsed although age and excessive weight are often to blame. As we age, the muscles within our airway lose tone especially while asleep. Being overweight, especially in the neck area, will place additional strain on the airway. Being older and overweight place you at high risk for snoring.

While snoring pills can reduce airway inflammation, such herbal remedies are unable to open an airway that’s essentially pinched off due to a relaxed jaw and tongue. The area of restriction is evident when you look at the illustration below which shows the area in which snoring typically originates.

Alternatives To Snoring Pills

Correcting a snoring problem begins by addressing the problematic area in which snoring typically develops. The Mandibular Advancement Device or Snoring Mouthpieces does just that.

Snoring Mouthpieces are typically made from a thermoplastic material and resemble mouthpieces that are often worn by athletes. While they may appear similar in nature, they are quite different when it comes to design.

A sports mouthguard simply acts as a buffer between teeth to prevent teeth injury during contact sports. A mouthguard that is specifically designed to prevent snoring is made to hold the jaw slightly forward which opens the airway and prevents resistance. With the muscles in this area tight, the airway becomes unrestricted and lose tissues do not flap against each other.  No restriction. No Flapping. No Snoring.

There’s a similar product called a tongue retaining device which actually holds the tongue forward and performs the same function. Both products have lots of medical research confirming their effectiveness.

Just how effective are they? Most studies that have been conducted suggest that snoring mouthpieces at least 75% or greater in effectiveness, making it the most effective snoring solution currently available.

Alternatively, if you are overweight, the most natural way to prevent snoring is to lose some weight. Fat that is stored in the neck area places strain against an airway that is already weakened by age. Those who are overweight typically experience a desirable decrease in snoring by losing as little as 10% of their body weight. In addition to helping with a snoring problem, weight loss may also help to reduce blood pressure as well as lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Weight loss should be the ultimate goal but snoring aids can be a helpful way to control snoring in the meantime.

Should I Try Stop Snoring Pills?

Looking at the low cost and ease of use offered by snoring pills, it’s very enticing to give them a try but is it they worth trying?

The use of snoring pills may reduce sinus symptoms such as excessive mucus buildup and some inflammation which can, in fact, contribute to snoring. Unfortunately, sinus congestion is one of the least likely contributors to snoring. Simply stated, anti-snoring pills are unlikely to resolve a snoring problem.

Unless you are able to locate a manufacturer who offers a money back guarantee, I recommend skipping over snoring pills and choosing a snoring mouthpiece which has been clinically proven to work. I’ve tested several different mouthpieces and can attest that they do in fact work. This site will help you choose a mouthpiece that will be a good fit. When choosing a mouthpiece, an important consideration should be whether or not you are a mouth breather. Those who are able to breathe freely through their nose may want to consider a TSD while all others will be better off going with a MAD.

What is Diabetes?

For years, most of us have believed that the disturbing sound of snoring is simply a bedroom nuisance that’s jokingly dismissed. Today, numerous medical studies have shown a link between snoring and a number of serious medical conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and even diabetes mellitus.

It’s estimated that there are more than 29 million Americans who are living with diabetes and as many as 25% are unaware of their condition. This equates to nearly one in ten people in the US having diabetes. Even more alarming, an estimated 86 million adults over the age of 20 are prediabetic, meaning that they have elevated levels of sugar and are not yet diabetic but very likely to become diabetic.

Diabetes occurs when there is an excess of sugar in the blood which is caused by the body not producing enough insulin. When you eat, your body converts foods to sugars which are used for energy. In order to process this sugar, your pancreas releases insulin which acts as a key to unlock cells which allow the sugar to enter. If your body does not produce enough insulin, the amount of glucose entering the cells will be impaired and elevated levels of sugar will appear.

There are two type of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. Type 2 diabetes is the most common and is usually onset around the age of 35 or later, although it’s becoming more common in younger adults and even children. With type 2 diabetes, your body produces insulin but not enough, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight and not physically active. Type 2 diabetes can often be successfully treated by changing eating habits and increasing exercise, resulting in weight loss which reduces insulin resistance and puts less of a strain on the pancreas.

Aside from adopting a healthier lifestyle, type 2 diabetes may also be treated with medication and in extreme cases, insulin injections may be necessary.

Type 1 diabetes is not nearly as common as type 2 yet is a more serious form of diabetes. This type of diabetes is often referred to as “juvenile” diabetes because it’s typically discovered at a very young age although it can occur later in life. Type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease because the body attacks the pancreas as it tries to produce insulin. Unfortunately, there is not a lot known about why this occurs.

Since type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, changing one’s diet and exercise habits alone usually does not resolve the issue. Daily insulin injections are often necessary. The amount of insulin needed will depend on diet and exercise levels as well as stress and emotional health.

What is Snoring?

Most of us are quite familiar with the sound of snoring but what many of us don’t know is exactly what snoring is and where the sound of snoring originates from.

While there are several areas in which snoring may occur, the most common area is in the airway. While awake, our soft palate and uvula are rigid and don’t move around much. While asleep, the uvula, soft palate and other muscles surrounding the airway relax and become floppy. The loss of tone becomes more common as we age and put on extra weight. The airway can become even more relaxed if alcohol or sedatives are consumed prior to going to bed. Those who sleep on their backs increase the likelihood of snoring as gravity causes fat in the neck area to place further pressure on the airway. As a result of one or a combination of all these factors, the airway becomes restricted.

Imagine air traveling past a restricted airway. When this occurs, these tissues begin to vibrate and flap against each other. The flapping and vibrations that are produced create the sound of snoring. The snoring sound typically originates in the most narrow part of the airway, just below the tongue.

How Diabetes and Snoring Are Related

You may be wondering how two completely unique conditions, which on the surface appear to be unrelated, have anything to do with each other.  Is it possible that snoring causes diabetes or perhaps diabetes causes snoring? Interestingly enough, recent medical research has found at least a couple links between these two conditions. In one recent study conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology, it was found that regular snorers were twice as likely to develop diabetes while even occasional snorers were nearly 50% more likely to end up with diabetes. Exactly how are these two conditions related?

Heavy snoring can affect your quality of sleep, this is especially true if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition that is strongly related to snoring and is characterized by pauses in breathing throughout the night.

Even snoring by itself can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep and may even prevent your bed partner from getting quality sleep. One of the issues with not getting enough quality sleep is that you spend the day tired and often rely on unhealthy food to keep you going throughout the day. It’s been suggested that those who snore often eat twice as much food as non-snorers.  Caffeine, whether in the form of coffee, soft drinks, or energy drinks, typically contains sugar and lots of it. In addition to caffeine and other stimulants, many turn to sugary processed foods to receive a burst of energy. Both sugary drinks and sugary foods place a strain on the pancreas as it tries to keep up with producing enough insulin to process all of the sugar. In addition, those who consume junk food throughout the day often tend to carry extra weight. Add stress to the equation and you have a recipe for type 2 diabetes.

A more scientific explanation has to do with insulin resistance caused by the release of cortisol and catecholamine while asleep.

As discussed, snoring is the result of loose tissue flapping around a restricted airway. When breathing is restricted during sleep, blood oxygen levels are often reduced and the body will release the stress hormone cortisol and catecholamine which increases blood sugar levels. Over time, the constant release of cortisol will cause insulin resistance which will ultimately cause type two diabetes.

What Can I Do To Help?

To prevent snoring related diabetes, start with changing diet and exercise.

If the idea of diabetes caused by snoring is a concern, as a snorer, you will be glad to know that there’s something that you can do to prevent your snoring from causing type 2 diabetes.

First, you will need to determine if your snoring is related to OSA which is a more serious related condition that should be treated by a physician, often requiring the use of CPAP therapy or the use of an oral appliance.

If you exhibit any signs of Sleep Apnea such as daytime tiredness, breathing pauses during sleep, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, or falling asleep during inappropriate times such as during work or while driving in the car, you will want to speak with your doctor who can determine if further testing is warranted.

Reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is often easily accomplished by eating healthier foods and getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. If you need to lose weight rapidly, consider increasing the intensity and number of minutes that you work out.

While increasing physical activity is a great place to start, you will also need to make adjustments to your diet, especially if you are overweight. Reduce and gradually eliminate sugary drinks, processed foods, foods high in fat, carbohydrates (especially enriched bread), foods with preservatives, and reduce the number of calories consumed each day.

In addition, you may want to consider using a snoring mouthpiece. These small devices fit inside of the mouth and help to prevent airway resistance. You can read more about snoring mouthpieces here.

Which One Works Better – Snoring Mouthpiece or Chinstrap?

There’s a debate among snorers who are unable to decide whether to choose a snoring mouthguard or chinstrap. Both products have received a bit of attention in recent years but are both equally effective at treating snoring? We are going to examine each and help you decide which product may be best for your particular situation. Let’s begin this discussion by investigating exactly what each solution is and the pros and cons of each product.

Pro And Cons of Snoring Chinstrap

The snoring chinstrap is elastic in nature and is usually made from a neoprene material. It works by holding the jaw closed and in place. Most chinstraps have a velcro fastening system that allows for easy installation and removal. This type of chinstrap wraps around the chin and fastens at the crown. Others are created by using a one piece loop design that does not require fastening, which can make installation of the chinstrap a challenge in some cases. Some are tailored to closely fit the shape of the head while others are simply a round band that stretches around the head and is held in place by force.  Snoring chinstraps vary widely in price from as little as $10 up to $100 with the average cost being somewhere around $25. One product, called “My Snore Solution” retails for over an incredible $120!

When choosing a chinstrap, keep all of these mentioned characteristics in mind. Phillips Respironics makes a fairly good chinstrap that fastens together and is tailored to closely fit the shape of the head. This particular chinstrap retails for around $30. Several other manufacturers offer their own variation of the chinstrap.

As for pros, the chinstrap can be an inexpensive and effective snoring solution for open mouth snorers. This type of snorer will only snore with their mouth open. Breathing through the mouth can cause the tonsils and uvula to rub against each other which crates snoring sounds. While this type of snoring does sometimes occur, it’s actually not very common.

The snoring chinstrap does have a few disadvantages. First, it doesn’t directly address the most common source of snoring, which originates in the airway. Keeping the mouth closed may lessen the sound of snoring, but if snoring is originating from the airway, it will still exist. In addition, there is very little medical research proving the effectiveness of the snoring chin strap. While some online reviewers claim to have experienced good results with a chinstrap, it’s effectiveness if difficult to prove without medical science backing it.

Pros And Cons of A Snoring Mouthpiece

The airway is often the source of snoring

Snoring mouthpieces, known in the medical industry as Mandibular Advancement Splints or Devices have been used to treat snoring and sleep apnea since the early 1980’s when it was discovered that by moving the jaw forward and holding it in place, snoring and in some cases sleep apnea will cease. The snoring mouthpiece is a very effective means of controlling snoring in those who snore due to a narrowed or partially obstructed airway. By holding the jaw forward, the muscles surrounding the jaw and around the airway are stretched, resulting in the opening of the airway. With these muscles stretched tight, tissues surround the airway are unable to collide with each other and the sound of snoring ceases.

There are several companies who manufacture snoring mouthpieces. Some of the more simple mouthpieces cost as little as $40 while those custom made in a laboratory and prescribed by a dentist can cost several thousand dollars. The more expensive professionally fitted mouthpiece is typically reserved for those with mild to moderate sleep apnea and is used under the supervision of a physician. For the purpose of simple snoring, mouthpieces ordered online typically cost less than $100.

When choosing a mouthpiece, there are a few items to consider. First, if you are a mouth breather, air holes are necessary. Even those who are not mouth breathers can benefit from having a mouthpiece with large air holes. Another consideration should be whether or not the mouthpiece is adjustable. Some allow you to make adjustments while others only allow one chance to create a good impression of your teeth.

Mouthpieces used for the purpose of snoring are usually made from a thermoplastic material which becomes pliable when heated in water that is typically at boiling temperature or lower. Once heated, it’s placed into the mouth and the jaw is moved out while biting down simultaneously. This position is held for up to a minute before removing and placing into cold water to permanently retain the mouthpieces shape. A good quality mouthpiece that is properly fitted will create a detailed impression of your teeth once removed.

As for pros, the snoring mouthpiece has been extensively studied and proven to work in over 75% of those with a snoring problem or sleep apnea. The reason why mouthpieces are so effective is that they tackle the problem where it originates which is typically within the airway.

As for cons of using a mouthpiece, they can take several days to become accustomed to wearing one which may result in discontinued use prior to achieving the desired result of stopping snoring.

Which Anti-Snoring Product Works Better?

While there are advantages and disadvantages of both the snoring chinstrap and mouthpiece, is one better than the other? The answer greatly depends on the source of your snoring. If snoring originates from the airway, a mouthpiece is always going to be the better choice. If your snoring is the result of your mouth hanging open, a chinstrap can be an effective solution.

If you are unsure of where your snoring is coming from, try this test. Open your mouth and recreate the sound of snoring. Now, close your mouth and continue with the sound. If snoring stops or becomes difficult with your mouth closed, you may be an open mouth snorer and a chinstrap may be effective.

To see if your snoring originates from the airway, stick out your tongue and hold it between your teeth while creating the sound of snoring. Now, release your tongue and continue making the sound of snoring. Was it more difficult to create the snoring sound with your tongue out? If so, there is a good chance that your snoring originates from your airway.

While it’s difficult to say which anti-snoring product works better, in most cases the snoring mouthpiece is going to be more effective than a chinstrap simply because it addresses the most common area where snoring originates.

Other Considerations To Help With A Snoring Problem

While both the chinstrap and mouthpiece can help your snoring, there a few things to consider when it comes to solving a snoring problem.

The first thing to consider is other issues that may be causing your snoring. In some cases, alcohol or sedative use will relax the airway and cause tissue to vibrate excessively. For this reason, you should first consider limiting alcohol use 4 hours prior to bed.

Another consideration may be your weight. If you are carrying around extra weight, especially in the neck area, you may want to consider losing a few pounds as this can help a snoring problem tremendously as excessive weigh restricts airflow. Losing as little as 10-20 lbs can have an impact on your snoring.

Finally, it’s possible that you are a positional snorer, meaning that you only snore while laying on your back. Before investing any money in a chinstrap or mouthpiece, try sleeping on your side and see if this helps with snoring. It’s estimated that nearly half of all snorers are positional snorers so changing your sleep position may be all that it takes. If you are experiencing difficulty staying on your side, try placing several pillows behind your back to prevent rollover throughout the night.

Snoring impacts more than half of the population and may actually be caused by what you eat.
They say you are what you eat, right? Well, what if you snore because of what you eat? There are many foods that are a part of our daily diet that may be the underlying cause of your snoring. Many foods that are considered healthy and nutritionally beneficial may also have properties that can trigger or activate snoring. Let’s examine some foods that cause snoring as well as foods that prevent snoring.

Foods That Cause Snoring

Milk

Drinking milk before bed, or any time of day for that matter may just be the underlying root of your snoring problem.  Many people have trouble digesting cow’s milk or any other product derived from milk.  Dairy products in general noticeably produce mucous in the throat that may form a lining down the airway which causes the blockage of airflow.  This obstruction in the airway causes our tissues to vibrate as air tries to pass by and creates the sound of snoring.  An excessive buildup of mucous can play a huge role in causing you or your partner to snore.  Dairy products that include milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, and heavy cream all leave a residual layer of mucous behind after swallowing.  The mucus can become thick enough, depending on how much dairy you are eating, and what specific kind of dairy, and can be the culprit of your snoring.  The mucus can also form in your nose and sinuses and block the flow of air through your nose at nighttime, which can also cause snoring.

Try steering away from eating ice cream, cheese, or other dairy products at night, especially right before bed.  If you experience seriously loud snoring, try experimenting by eliminating all dairy from your diet for just one week.  You may be surprised to see that your snoring may disappear completely.  If you do decide to stop eating dairy, pay attention to processed food ingredients because milk can be disguised in powder form and is included in many boxed bread mixes, dry mixes, and prepared food.

Milk not only produces phlegm and mucous buildup in the throat, but it can also cause inflammation in our bodies, especially in the mouth and throat where it is ingested and digested.  Inflammation is another cause of snoring, as it inflames the throat tissues and physically obstructs the flow of air.

Red Meat

Red meat is known to be loaded with unhealthy saturated fat.  Saturated fat causes inflammation of the muscles in our body and can cause the nose and throat to be inflamed as well.  When the nasal passage and airway become inflamed, the flow of air is blocked.  An obstruction or blockage of air always results in snoring.

If you are faced with eating a late night meal, try to steer away from eating red meat late at night.  You can try replacing the red meat with a leaner choice of fish.  Some fish are also fatty but contain fatty acids which reduce inflammation instead of saturated fats that cause inflammation.

Soy

Believe it or not, vegetarians should stay away from soy right before bed, as it’s one of the most mucus producing ingredients out there.  You don’t have to be a vegetarian to eat soy either – soy is used in almost every processed food that you eat.  Soy has become a staple “filler” ingredient since it can be manipulated in many ways and is basically tasteless.  Staying away from soy can be hard because it really is in everything, but if you can avoid it right before bedtime it will be most beneficial to you and your bed partner and curb snoring.

Caffeine

Tea, coffee, soft drinks, and energy drinks all stimulate snoring, and they can keep you up at night.  Most consumers think that tea is caffeine-free, but it’s not.  It doesn’t have as much caffeine as coffee, but it’s still a stimulant.  Caffeine is known as an anti-sleeping aid and causes inflammation in your body.  As described earlier, when your throat and mouth tissues become inflamed, they obstruct the flow of air which leads to snoring.  It’s best to avoid caffeinated products, especially right before bed.  If you can go without caffeine after 4 PM, you may be surprised to hear that your snoring can subside.

What to Eat Before Bed that Prevents Snoring

A good rule of thumb is to not eat at all before going to bed.  If you give yourself a solid 2-3 hours of not eating before bedtime, you should be able to get a good night of sleep, without the snoring.  Just remember that food is not the only cause of snoring.  There may be another issue that is causing your snoring like sleep apnea or another serious sleep disorder.

Hot Tea – Decaffeinated

Hot tea has many health benefits and may reduce snoring.  However, most teas have caffeine, contrary to popular belief.  Even green tea has caffeine, however, it’s much lower when compared to black tea or other teas.  Pick up some decaf tea at your next stop at the grocery store or look into other herbal teas that are low-caffeine or caffeine-free.

Hot Tea with Lemon

Hot tea (remember – decaf!) is good at night, especially with lemon.  Lemon is a natural decongestant and can unclog your nasal passageway and your sinuses.

Hot Tea with Honey

Hot decaf tea with honey is also a good option to drink in the evening or before bedtime.  Honey is an anti-inflammatory and may reduce swelling in the throat.  Did you know that professional vocalists and opera singers take regular doses of honey to open their airway and accentuate their vocal chords?

Hot Water

If you are not a tea drinker, but would still like something warm at night before bed, try microwaving a mug full of plain water.  Hot water removes phlegm that may block the airway and can prevent snoring.

 Onions

Although onions do not sound amazingly appetizing right before bedtime, onions contain healthy antioxidants that reduce inflammation in the body.  Onions also target mucous and phlegm built up in your sinuses and help to prevent and stop snoring.  You can include onions while cooking your dinner, or create your own onion elixir as a nightcap.

In conclusion, there are several foods you can avoid before bedtime to help alleviate or prevent your snoring.  Although they are not all full-proof, it’s best to not eat at all 2-3 hours before bedtime, especially right before you go to bed.

If your snoring persists even after holding off on certain foods, you should speak with your doctor regarding any other serious concerns that may be causing your snoring.  Your doctor or medical professional can diagnose and treat any type of snoring disorder, including sleep apnea.

Where Does Snoring Originate From?

In a sea of anti-snoring products, it’s often difficult to make a decision when all companies promise to put an end to your snoring. There are literally hundreds of product to choose from including nose cones, chin straps, mouthpieces, special pillows, and nasal strips to name a few. How does one go about choosing the best product to put an end to their snoring?  Each product is unique and performs the function of preventing snoring in a different fashion.  There’s no one-size-fits-all snoring solution, meaning that one product may work for some but not all. The key to choosing the right product is to first determine the type of snorer you are.

Which Type of Snorer Am I?

Snoring typically originates from one of two areas – within the airway, just behind the tongue or in the nasal area. Snoring most commonly originates from the airway. Knowing which type of snorer you are will be helpful when making a product selection.

There are a couple simple tests that you can perform in the privacy of your home which will help you to make this determination. Give these a try:

Open Mouth Snorer

• With your mouth open, replicate the sound of snoring
• Close your mouth and perform this test once again
• If there is a noticeable difference between the two, you may be an open mouth snorer

Nasal Snorer 

• Stand in front of the mirror
• With your mouth closed, push in on one nostril to close it off
• Release your finger and watch to see if your nostril opens and returns to its normal position
• Repeat this process for the other nostril
• If either nostril remains closed after removing your finger, it’s possible that you are a nasal snorer

Airway Snorer 

• Stick out your tongue and hold it in place with your teeth or fingers
• Try to generate the sound of snoring
• Release your tongue and try once again to create the snoring sound.
• If you noticed that it’s more difficult to recreate the sound of snoring with your tongue out, your snoring may originate from the airway

The Solution

Of the three types, airway snorers are usually the most common. The reason why snoring originates in the airway is that while asleep, the airway often becomes narrowed as our tongue relaxes and falls to the back of the throat. When this occurs, it creates resistance and as air moves past and it, this causes loose tissue in the airway to vibrate and generates the sound of snoring.

While there are several possibilities of why this occurs, being overweight and age are two common factors that influence snoring in this area. Extra fat, particularly in the airway region, places pressure on the airway which causes resistance. For this reason, simply losing a few pounds can help to reduce or eliminate snoring.   As we age, the tongue muscle and muscles within the airway become less tone and are more likely to fall backward and create resistance. While we can’t turn back the hands of time, a mandibular advancement device (snoring mouthpiece) or Tongue Stabilization Device (TSD) can help. A snoring mouthpiece helps by holding the jaw forward which tightens the airway and prevents snoring.

Open mouth snorers are less common in comparison to airway snorers. The sound of snoring is generated when a person breathes through their mouth instead of through their nose. As air moves in and out of the mouth, it causes the uvula, tonsil and other airway tissues to collide with each other and creates the snoring sound. In this case, the solution may be to encourage nasal breathing by using snoring chinstrap, mouthpiece, or a combination of the two which can be highly effective.

Nasal snorers make up the least number of snorers. This occurs when the nasal passages become blocked, often by nostrils that collapse while sleeping. There are other possibilities that may cause nasal snoring such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps which require a visit to your physician. Other times nasal snoring occurs due to a cold or allergies.

When performing these three tests, you may have noticed that you were able to generate the sound of snoring in all three instances. It’s possible that your snoring originates from multiple locations. In this case, you may want to start with one product such as nasal strips and then try a mouthpiece if your snoring doesn’t diminish. You may find that using a combination of products such as a mouthpiece and chinstrap or nasal strips and mouthpiece provide the best performance.

Chinstrap vs. Mouthpiece

Chinstraps work well to help keep the mouth closed while asleep. They can also be used alongside a mouthpiece to prevent it from falling out at night. When used by their self to hold the jaw forward in order clear the airway, some have reported good results although using it for this purpose is usually not ideal. In the battle between the chinstrap and mouthpiece, the mouthpiece is usually the better choice as it tends to perform well for both open mouth snorers and airway snorers.

Chinstrap vs. Nasal Strips

In the battle between the chinstrap and nasal strips, there is no clear winner as each product targets a different type of snorer. When deciding between these two, refer to the tests above to determine which type of snorer you are. If a nasal snorer, nasal strips or nasal cones are going to be the ideal product to choose. All others may want to choose either a chinstrap or mouthpiece.

Mouthpiece vs Nasal Strips

Once again, when trying to decide between either nasal strips and a mouthpiece, it’s important to first determine which type of snorer you are. A mouthpiece is not going to be effective if you are a nasal snorer and vice versa.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a snoring solution is not always easy when there are so many to choose from. By first deciding which type of snorer you are, you can save time and money by purchasing the right product that will effectively solve your snoring problem. While there are many different types available solutions, mouthpieces, chinstraps and nasal dilators are the most popular. Of the three, the snoring mouthpiece is the most popular because they solve the most common source of snoring. They also have more clinical research backing them as an effective means to control snoring.

Even choosing a mouthpiece is not easy because there are over 30 different manufacturers to choose from.  This review website will help to take some of the guesswork out of choosing the right mouthpiece to meet your needs.

With the growing number of cancer patients and sleep apnea cases in the United States and Europe, many are wondering if there is a link between snoring and cancer.  Will snoring actually put you at risk of developing cancer?  Or is snoring a symptom of one of the many types of cancers?

Studies about Cancer and Snoring

The University of Washington was involved in a study that was linking snoring and breast cancer.  Assistant professor, Amanda Phipps, who teaches epidemiology at UW, worked with her students to make headway on linking the snoring epidemic as an early sign of cancer.   The study specifically related to breast cancer, since it’s difficult to compare snoring to the thousands of types of cancers out there – they figured they would just focus on one.  UW partnered with the Women’s Health Initiative so she could analyze patient data from over 15,000 women that were diagnosed with breast cancer at one point or another.

The results were shocking. Phipps and her research team found that a woman with breast cancer who snored was twice as likely to die faster than one who did not snore.

The two types of test groups in the study consisted of the following:

• women with breast cancer who received under 6 hours of a restless sleep that snored
• women with breast cancer who did not snore, and got 7-8 hours of sleep each night

Women’s Health Initiative -What is it?

The WHI is a long-term, national medical group that studies women over the age of 50.  The group of women has consented to provide researchers with data and information including their diet, lifestyle, hormone therapy involvement and any other medical information researchers need in order to better understand diseases.  There are over 100,000 women in the organization, all in post-menopausal stages of life.  Their data helps medical professionals treat diseases, plan medical costs,  and distribute data to doctors and researchers involved in clinical trials.

Another study that was done on lab rats, showed evidence that low oxygen received in the brain started the growth of tumors.  Snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, a dangerous sleep disorder, that limits the amount of oxygen to all parts of your body, but most importantly the brain.

Sleep Apnea

The University of Florida Health Science Center published an article in 2012 saying that people that suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea are 5 times more likely to die of cancer than those who experience normal breathing patterns during sleep.  The worse the sleep apnea condition is, the more likely they are to develop and die of cancer.

Your body needs oxygen to survive.  If you are not getting a constant flow of oxygen into your body while you sleep, the carbon dioxide levels in your blood rise while the oxygen levels decrease. After a few minutes of this occurring, a person can actually die.  With sleep apnea, your brain wakes up your body when the carbon dioxide levels get too high.  This is when you awake and gasp for a breath of air, and sometimes you can’t even feel it because you are still asleep.  Your bed partner will most likely hear this gasp for air and will nudge you or wake you to tell you that you are snoring loudly.  When this occurs hundreds of time during the night, it’s referred to as obstructive sleep apnea.  It’s very harmful to the body because it’s not providing oxygen to the brain.  Several harmful side effects of the lack of oxygen are listed below.

Harmful Side Effects of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Systemic Inflammation and Lack of Oxygen from Sleep Apnea

SI, or systemic inflammation, occurs when inflammatory cytokines are released from your bodies immune system.  Cytokines in simple terms are growth cells.  Your immune system is made up of healthy cells that fight off infection and keep your body healthy.  When oxygen is deprived of your body, possibly due to untreated sleep apnea, cytokines that are pro-inflammatory, are released from the immune system and can potentially carry inflammation from one part of your body to the next.  When your body is inflamed, it can make you intolerant to certain chemicals, medicines, and foods.  It can lead to a poorly functioning immune system and other diseases including cancer.

Chronic Inflammation

If Systemic inflammation occurs and remains untreated, it could potentially form into chronic inflammation, which is also related to the lack of airflow throughout the body.   This means the inflammation has not been treated or has not gone away.  Inflammation is the body’s natural treatment of keeping you healthy and is a response directly from your immune system.  If there is an infection or the body needs to rid itself of something, the area becomes inflamed.  The inflammation caused is actually the body’s way of protecting you.  If Chronic inflammation persists for months or years, the body starts to work overtime on healing the affected area.  When this occurs, it can lead to serious conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, hay fever, heart disease, and cancers.

Oxidation

Another risk factor for sleep apnea and having interrupted sleeping patterns is forming oxidation.  Oxidation is another side effect of chronic inflammation.  When oxidation occurs, it is referred to as oxidative stress.  This stress wears down the immune system due to lack of oxygen and may allow pathogens and harmful cancer cells to grow and spread through the body.

Is Sleep Apnea and Snoring a Side Effect of Cancer?

To reverse the tables for a moment, some cancer patients wonder if snoring is an onset side effect of cancer.  Some say that the snoring wouldn’t be a side effect of cancer, but rather the cancer treatments.  Chemotherapy and radiation are the two most common forms of cancer treatments.  Symptoms in patients vary, but some people undergoing chemotherapy and radiation have complained that snoring is a side effect of their treatment and that they never experienced

 snoring until they had cancer.

It’s difficult for researchers to determine whether or not cancer treatments cause snoring or not because there are so many side effects from the treatments in general.  It’s possible that a side effect could trigger snoring, thus it is unrelated to actual cancer.

In conclusion, it’s quite possible that snoring and sleep apnea may be related to cancer and could cause cancer in some instances.  More research will provide hard data to answer this question.  In the meantime, it’s important to address your snoring issues.  Since snoring is one of the most noticeable symptoms of sleep apnea, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea.  You will most likely be referred to another doctor who will administer an overnight sleep study.  The sleep study will monitor your brain activity, heart rate, and other data to determine whether or not sleep apnea is present.  From there, your healthcare professional will present your options for treatment, if sleep apnea is diagnosed after all.  It’s a precautionary measure to go to the doctor now, especially if researchers are already linking sleep apnea and cancer.

The didgeridoo is a musical instrument used throughout ancient Australian culture which is said to treat and stop snoring by practicing certain breathing techniques needed to create the one of a kind sound.  It was first developed in northern Australia and has gained popularity throughout the years and is now played in countries around the world.

The Didgeridoo

The Didgeridoo is an Australia musical instrument that has been part of the Aboriginal people for thousands of years and is actually known as the oldest wind instrument in the world.  It’s a naturally formed instrument in that it’s literally a hollowed out tree.  The didgeridoo is created by locating a eucalyptus tree that has termite damage.  In this case, the termite damage is beneficial because the insects naturally hollow out the tree, making it easier for someone to finish hollowing out the log, and then sand it and paint it.

The sounds

The didgeridoo produces exotic sounds and the various rhythms are very relaxing and tranquil for the audience as well as the musician.  There is one keynote or tone produced by the didgeridoo that is called a drone.

How to Play it

The didgeridoo is played by blowing into the top of the instrument with a large deep breath, followed by a short inhalation.

How the Didgeridoo Treats Snoring

The actual process of breathing into the didgeridoo activates the parasympathetic nervous system in your body.  When this system is stimulated, your body naturally relaxes, eases stress, helps with respiratory problems, and can even stop your snoring.

Parasympathethic Nervous System

The parasympathetic nervous system, or PSNS, is responsible for the resting periods after the body has been stimulated by basic functions.  For example, say you have been working out in your yard all morning long, sweating and moving plants or rocks around.  Eventually, you are going to be thirsty and hungry after all of your hard work.  Once you go inside and drink a glass of water and eat a sandwich, your stomach becomes full, and you feel relaxed, energized, and satisfied.  This feeling of being at rest is triggered by the PSNS.  The same type of feeling occurs after a bowel movement and after intercourse, to name a few.  This restful feeling is also achieved after you practice the didgeridoo – the breathing techniques and patterns that you practice over and over again eventually activate the PSNS, resulting in the relaxed and calming state.

Didgeridoo for Health

Didgeridoo for health is a growing treatment for respiratory issues, stress, and anxiety in Europe and the United States, especially since natural and organic treatments have gained popularity in recent years.

Playing the didgeridoo to stop snoring – Two Steps

There are two simple steps to playing the didgeridoo:

1. Practicing and mastering the drone tone
2. Develop circular breathing

The Drone Tone

Mastering the drone tone does take some practice, however, there is only one basic note or tone, the drone.  Even if you have never played a musical instrument before, you will still be able to play the didgeridoo.  Practicing the drone tone is the first step to successfully playing the didgeridoo and also introduces you to circular breathing, the science behind the didgeridoo and stopping your snoring.

Circular Breathing

After you master playing the drone, you start to naturally open and close your airway, directing air up the throat and out through your nose while simultaneously exhaling through the mouth.  This is called circular breathing.  Circular breathing is very similar to other yoga breathing exercises you may have practiced before.  These types of breathing patterns have been used throughout hundreds of years to aid in the reduction of stress, meditation, and calming anxiety.

The more practice you have on the didgeridoo, the more you promote circular breathing.  This strengthens the soft fatty tissues in the hard palate, in the back of your throat, and can actually prevent snoring in itself.  Snoring occurs when there is an obstruction in your airway, forcing air to find its way around the obstruction, up against flabby tissues near the hard and soft palates, which cause them to vibrate.  The vibration creates the sound of snoring.  If circular breathing firms up the palate and strengthens those tissues, the vibration will not occur, thus eliminating the sound of snoring.

A study performed in Zurich in 2005 found that patients who suffered from the serious sleep disorder of sleep apnea and used circular breathing and didgeridoo playing, experienced several positive results that included:

-a noticeable drop in daytime drowsiness

-a reduction in snoring

-improved quality of sleep by their bed partner

-nearly complete elimination of sleep apnea after four months of repeated didgeridoo treatment

The didgeridoo is also being used as sound therapy to treat those with chronic pain.  The vibration that the didgeridoo makes actually produces a low-frequency sound that can be felt and heard.  The frequency can heal tissues and release blocked energy in various parts of the body.  Didgeridoo healing methods are not just for snoring and sleep apnea treatments anymore, as they have also been used to ease emotional and nerve pains, as well as treat a range of other medical conditions like depression and other stress diseases.

Didgeridoo vs. Other Snoring Treatments

Since there isn’t a ton of scientific evidence backing the didgeridoo curing snoring and sleep apnea, some people like to play the instrument as a complementing treatment along with the continued use of a CPAP machine or mandibular advancement device.  There is also controversy coming from large pharmaceutical companies that invest millions of dollars into the CPAP and snoring industries that do not want to hear or see the success of a natural treatment for snoring.  However, something has to be said for such an ancient musical instrument positively impacting people with respiratory issues, snoring problems, anxiety and stress.  With the increased use of prescription drugs and treatments in the US and abroad, it’s peaceful just thinking about using something so natural and simple to do good.

Where Can you Buy a Didgeridoo

You can find a didgeridoo at a specialty store or online ranging in prices from $30 – $1,300.  The higher end of the spectrum will most likely be a handmade, unique instrument from an artisan or musician in Australia.  The lower end of the spectrum will be inexpensive low-quality reproductions of the instrument.  Some didgeridoos are made of plastic but are meant to train your breathing and achieve the drone tone until you can excel to actually playing the real thing.  There is nothing like playing the original instrument, but most musicians say that playing a plastic replica is still good practice and the circular breathing techniques can still be achieved.

There are two main types of sleep apnea that both relate to snoring: central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea. Both forms of sleep apnea deal with limiting the amount of oxygen to the body and brain. Both also have the symptom of snoring, however, the reason your airway becomes obstructed is actually completely different in these types of sleep apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is the lesser common form of sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea is actually controlled by the brain stem, which surprisingly controls your breathing. The brain stem monitors how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are present in the bloodstream. When low amounts of oxygen are present, the brain signals the respiratory system to inhale a deep breath to continue the flow of oxygen in the body. Also inversely, when high amounts of carbon dioxide are present, the respiratory system is triggered to exhale in order to rid the carbon dioxide from the body. The brain is very sensitive to these oxygen levels, thus maintaining full control of the body’s breathing patterns.

If the brain stem is not functioning correctly, thus poorly managing the sensitivity of oxygen in the blood, the signals sent to the respiratory system may not be as strong, resulting in shorter unfulfilling breaths, or no breaths at all. The absence of these signals sent from the brain is very dangerous and needs to be addressed immediately. Typically a CPAP machine, the most common form of sleep apnea treatment currently on the market, will not completely treat central sleep apnea and usually, other treatments such as prescription drugs or surgeries are necessary since the underlying cause is linked to brain function.

Obesity and Central Sleep Apnea

Unlike obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea is typically not linked to obesity. Since central sleep apnea is directly caused by a miscommunication in the brain, weight does not play a role in this type of sleep apnea. It could be linked to obstructive sleep apnea, however.

Causes of Central Sleep Apnea

As discussed above, the main cause of CSA is a misfire in communication from the brain stem to the respiratory system. There is another cause why central sleep apnea is on the rise and may just relate to the growing epidemic of opiate use in the United States.

Opioid use Can Cause Central Sleep Apnea

According to the United States National Library of Medicine, 8 clinical studies were done in order to relate opioid use to central sleep apnea. The results of the study showed that 24% of chronic opioid users have central sleep apnea. It was also found that most opioid users had a very low body mass index. If you are prescribed opioids, it’s possible that you could develop central sleep apnea since opioids target receptors in the brain. If you endure extreme pain, opioids are generally described to block pain and generally calm the body.  This calming can actually overact, stopping the brain stem from sensing the amount of oxygen in the blood and not triggering your respiratory system to function.

Snoring is not as prominent in CSA

Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, snoring isn’t as prevalent in CSA because the brain is not signaling breathing from occurring, as opposed to a physical obstruction in airflow like in OSA.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is typically first noticed by your bed partner because snoring is the most common and disruptive symptom. Snoring occurs when there is a blockage or obstruction in your airway that prevents the flow of oxygen down the pharynx. The obstruction could be your tongue blocking the airway, the inflammation of mouth and throat tissues from extra weight or inflammation, or nasal mucous buildup due to respiratory issues like a sinus infection or allergies. Whatever is causing the obstruction, it doesn’t completely block the airway, or you would be dead. Rather, the air just finds another way to the lungs and typically flows around the obstruction which creates a physical vibration against fatty throat tissues. This physical vibration creates the sound of snoring.

OSA is commonly recognized by a bed partner because they will hear the sound of snoring, and then there will be silence for several seconds. It can be frightening for the bed partner, but also the snorer because you actually stop breathing for a short period of time and then awake suddenly while choking or trying to catch your breath. Sometimes you can wake yourself up from these episodes and other times you won’t even know that you’re doing it. This is why the bed partner is usually the one to mention it to the snorer because it is disruptive but also very concerning. This is the most prevalent and noticeable symptom of OSA. The fact that you stop and start breathing repeatedly throughout the night is very dangerous because there is a limited amount of airflow going into the body. The body survives off of oxygen and by limiting it, serious problems can occur.

Another noticeable symptom of OSA is profuse sweating throughout the night. If you find yourself waking in the middle of the night and you are drenched in sweat, this may be a sign that you are suffering from sleep apnea. Another common symptom is having problems sleeping and being restless throughout the night. If you wake up in the morning with a headache, this can be another indicator of OSA.

Methods to Diagnose OSA

Obstructive sleep apnea can be diagnosed in several different ways, but primarily by conducting a sleep study, called a polysomnogram, or by a portable machine that is taken home with you and administered by you before you go to sleep.

Polysomnogram

The most common way to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in someone is by performing a polysomnogram or sleep study. Electric currents are recorded, known as electroencephalography, and monitor your sleeping patterns. The sleep study is usually administered overnight in a sleep lab and records the different states of NREM and REM, nonrapid eye movement, and rapid eye movement respectively. The analysis of these sleeping stages, how long they occur, and the length of time between each, is used to diagnose whether or not you have OSA.

Home Sleep Test

In recent years, at home sleep study monitors, or a Home Sleep Test (HST) has been recommended by doctors so their patients can administer the recording of their sleeping habits in the comfort of their own home. The patient doesn’t actually see the data, however, they will set up a small monitor either strapped to them or next to their bed, with several electrodes that monitor your brain activity, respiratory performance, oxygen levels in the blood, heart rate and rhythm, and snoring. The monitor is then dropped off at the doctor’s office where a medical professional analyzes the data from the HST.

Why OSA is dangerous

Obstructive sleep apnea can be very dangerous if untreated. OSA is treated with a CPAP mask to ensure a steady flow of oxygen is being inhaled throughout the night. It’s the most effective and popular form of treatment at this time. If you think you suffer from OSA, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Many side effects of obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Daytime drowsiness
• Impaired or delayed memory
• Lack of interest in sex
• Irritability

More severe side effects of OSA include:

• High blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Irregular heart beats
• Stroke
• Death

Conclusion

As you can see, both forms of sleep apnea are very serious. They have different symptoms, side effects, and treatments. Keep your doctor in the loop with your sleeping patterns if you think you show symptoms of either type of apnea. There are treatments options available for sleep apnea that are both affordable and effective.