Tuesday, May 22, 2012

How to stop snoring - some interesting advice

As I've frequently shared, no (finger and keyboard) expense is spared in seeking out interesting and quizzical pieces, which are shared here. Came accross some informative advice via Yahoo, which always has some interesting articles, while reading about snoring prevention. It's my opinion that my husband does the big snoring but when confronted, he claims that I snore louder. We must make some duet. In any case, here is our first piece of advice:

"Sing! Researchers at the University of Exeter in England found that people snored significantly less once they had started singing for 20 minutes a day for three months. Singing may help by firming up flabby muscles in the upper airways."

This got me thinking. Given my ability to sing on key and perhaps the same issue with people reading this, I'm not sure if this is a practical exercise, at least for me. Furthermore, when is the best time to sing? Before bed? While in bed? I mean, twenty minutes of my singing repertoire, much of which the lyrics are missing, before going to sleep might not be such a good idea. How about in the shower away from anyone within hearing range? You get what I'm saying? It's finding the right time to be able to warble for 20 minutes. Would ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the afternoon, suffice, or does it have to be continuous? Also, notice the word "may" help by firming up flabby muscles, as in not a certainty. Still, it's an interesting alternative, as is the next piece of advice.
 
"A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device uses air pressure to keep the throat open and help reduce snoring. A sleep disorder specialist can determine if a CPAP can help you."
 
Having never heard of a CPAP, went to check out what this device looked like. Far be it to "poo-poo" snoring aids but wearing something that looks like an oxygen mask while sleeping doesn't do it for me. I mean, can you imagine a romantic rendez-vous after which one of the participants suddenly puts on this mask? You can see what we're talking about here: http://health.yahoo.net/articles/sleep/photos/how-prevent-snoring#6  Don't get me wrong - I'm not in any way discounting the workability of this device. Just thinking it wouldn't work for me. How about others reading this?
 
Finally, there's advice that falls into the-good-idea-but-not- for-me column.
 
"If you snore mostly when on your back, sew a tennis ball on the mid-back of a tight pajama top (put it in an old shirt pocket and sew it on). The discomfort forces you to roll over and sleep on your side--without waking you up, says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD."
 
I've often heard this from people when discussing the snoring issue and after being up half the night. Somehow, having a tennis ball jammed between the skin and pajama top somehow does not invite a peaceful night's sleep. A tennis ball is for planning tennis.
 
Some other advice found on other anti-snoring sites suggest your good old ear plugs, or "a white-noise machine can make nights with a snorer more bearable. These electronic devices produce a consistent sound that muffles other noises." Having never heard of these devices, one (me) wonders if the white-noise machine would keep a person awake.
 
The advice offered is definitely interesting and probably works but for some of us, a good elbow nudge works wonders. Right?

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