The first thing you need to do to stop snoring is to consider your lifestyle. Are you a smoker? Do you drink on a regular basis? Are you overweight? All of these contribute to a snoring problem. Likewise, some drugs, including sleeping pills, can make your snoring worse. Avoid drinking alcohol before bed, cut back on your smoking, and work to lose weight. All of these will help you fix your snoring problem.
Next you need to take a look at your bed. Are you sleeping with too many pillows? This can make snoring worse. If you tend to get congested, try raising the head of your bed with books or other risers either below your mattress or under the legs.
Sleeping on your back greatly increases the chance that you will snore. You might want to try a sleep positioning pillow, or sewing a tennis ball into the back of your pajamas to keep you from sleeping on your back. Side and stomach sleeping is best for snoring prevention.
There are several products that help with snoring. You can try nasal strips that work by opening your nasal passage, or a mouthpiece that holds your lower jaw forward as you sleep. While no product will work for everyone, these products do help for some snorers.
If you can’t seem to get rid of the snoring, or are finding that you are having difficulty with breathing at night, you need to consult a doctor. There are some medical conditions that make snoring worse, and these can be quite serious if untreated.
VitalSleep Anti Snoring Mouthguard
Stop Snoring Mouthguard by VitalSleep
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
What is the Repose System Procedure?
The ReposeTM system is a tongue suspension procedure where a screw is inserted into the lower jaw. The tongue is then attached to the screw with a suture, thus preventing the tongue from falling back into the throat while sleeping. The procedure require full anesthesia, but is fully reversible. It can also be used alongside other snoring surgeries.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
What is Injection Snoreplasty?
Injection snoreplasty is a procedure that hardens the soft tissues that vibrate to produce the snoring sound by injecting sodium tetradecyl sulfate to the roof of the mouth, just in front of the uvula. This creates a blister that eventually hardens into scar tissue that pulls the uvula forward, reducing the chances of it obstructing the airway. Injection snoreplasty has had good results, and is less painful than LAUP.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
What are the Different Sleep Cycles
Waking
When you are awake your brain is quite active. Your brain waves have a high frequency, meaning that on a graph they occur close together, and low amplitude, meaning that on a graph they are short, without large spikes. The brain waves do not follow a regular pattern, instead changing continually as you progress through your day. These brain waves are called Beta waves.
When you relax your brain waves become more regular. The amplitude goes up and the frequency slows. These brain waves are called Alpha waves.
Stage 1
The first stage of sleep occurs when you first go to bed. You enter a restful state in which you are mostly asleep, but are still easy to wake. Your eyes will move slowly as you drift in a semiconscious state. Sometimes sleepers will experience “sleep starts” where sudden contractions of the muscles, called hypnic myoclonia or myoclonic jerks, cause a feeling of falling. As you drift into sleep your brain waves slow even further than while relaxing, drifting into a slower frequency, higher amplitude wave called a Theta wave. Usually stage 1 sleep does not last very long.
Stage 2
Stage 2 sleep is deeper than stage 1. Your eyes stop moving and your brain waves slow down. Occasional bursts of fast brain activity called sleep spindles and periods of greater wave amplitude called K complexes are typical of stage 2 sleep. Most of the brain waves are Theta waves in stage 2 sleep. Like stage 1 sleep, stage 2 sleep does not last more than a few minutes.
Stage 3
As you drift deeper into sleep your brain will settle into a slow pattern with a high amplitude called Delta waves. This is the beginning of deep sleep. Your body is restful, your eyes are still, and you are deeply asleep. In stage 3 sleep just under 50% of your brain waves are Delta waves, with spikes of higher activity in between the quieter periods.
Stage 4
Much like stage 3, this stage is characterized by Delta wave brain activity. Over 50% of your brain waves are Delta waves, but occasional bursts of higher activity still occur. It is very difficult to rouse a person from stage 4 sleep. Interestingly, it is during stage 4 sleep that most cases of sleepwalking, night terrors, and even bedwetting occur. Stage 4 sleep lasts the longest in the early part of the night, but gradually decreases in length as the night progresses, until it nearly disappears by early morning.
REM
After the body has cycled from the 1st to the 4th sleep stage it will reverse the pattern, returning to 1st stage sleep just before entering REM sleep. As you begin to dream there are many changes in your body. Your breathing becomes rapid and irregular, your eyes begin to move, often with a jerky motion, and your heart rate becomes elevated. At the same time your brain waves become active, much like those found while you are awake. The body produces a chemical that paralyses the muscles while you are dreaming, to keep you from thrashing about and hurting yourself. This is measured by the EMG, which picks up a sudden and drastic loss of muscle tone. If you are woken during REM sleep, you will likely remember your dream in full detail.
Most people will pass through this cycle of sleep stages 3-5 times throughout the night. Early stages will not have long periods of REM sleep, but as the night progresses your dream stage will lengthen. It has been theorized that we use REM sleep to process the information taken in through the day. Interestingly, infants spend 50% of their sleeping time in REM sleep. As we grow older, we require less REM sleep. Adults spend approximately 20% of the night in REM sleep.
When you are awake your brain is quite active. Your brain waves have a high frequency, meaning that on a graph they occur close together, and low amplitude, meaning that on a graph they are short, without large spikes. The brain waves do not follow a regular pattern, instead changing continually as you progress through your day. These brain waves are called Beta waves.
When you relax your brain waves become more regular. The amplitude goes up and the frequency slows. These brain waves are called Alpha waves.
Stage 1
The first stage of sleep occurs when you first go to bed. You enter a restful state in which you are mostly asleep, but are still easy to wake. Your eyes will move slowly as you drift in a semiconscious state. Sometimes sleepers will experience “sleep starts” where sudden contractions of the muscles, called hypnic myoclonia or myoclonic jerks, cause a feeling of falling. As you drift into sleep your brain waves slow even further than while relaxing, drifting into a slower frequency, higher amplitude wave called a Theta wave. Usually stage 1 sleep does not last very long.
Stage 2
Stage 2 sleep is deeper than stage 1. Your eyes stop moving and your brain waves slow down. Occasional bursts of fast brain activity called sleep spindles and periods of greater wave amplitude called K complexes are typical of stage 2 sleep. Most of the brain waves are Theta waves in stage 2 sleep. Like stage 1 sleep, stage 2 sleep does not last more than a few minutes.
Stage 3
As you drift deeper into sleep your brain will settle into a slow pattern with a high amplitude called Delta waves. This is the beginning of deep sleep. Your body is restful, your eyes are still, and you are deeply asleep. In stage 3 sleep just under 50% of your brain waves are Delta waves, with spikes of higher activity in between the quieter periods.
Stage 4
Much like stage 3, this stage is characterized by Delta wave brain activity. Over 50% of your brain waves are Delta waves, but occasional bursts of higher activity still occur. It is very difficult to rouse a person from stage 4 sleep. Interestingly, it is during stage 4 sleep that most cases of sleepwalking, night terrors, and even bedwetting occur. Stage 4 sleep lasts the longest in the early part of the night, but gradually decreases in length as the night progresses, until it nearly disappears by early morning.
REM
After the body has cycled from the 1st to the 4th sleep stage it will reverse the pattern, returning to 1st stage sleep just before entering REM sleep. As you begin to dream there are many changes in your body. Your breathing becomes rapid and irregular, your eyes begin to move, often with a jerky motion, and your heart rate becomes elevated. At the same time your brain waves become active, much like those found while you are awake. The body produces a chemical that paralyses the muscles while you are dreaming, to keep you from thrashing about and hurting yourself. This is measured by the EMG, which picks up a sudden and drastic loss of muscle tone. If you are woken during REM sleep, you will likely remember your dream in full detail.
Most people will pass through this cycle of sleep stages 3-5 times throughout the night. Early stages will not have long periods of REM sleep, but as the night progresses your dream stage will lengthen. It has been theorized that we use REM sleep to process the information taken in through the day. Interestingly, infants spend 50% of their sleeping time in REM sleep. As we grow older, we require less REM sleep. Adults spend approximately 20% of the night in REM sleep.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Why Do People Snore?
Before considering a snoring cure, it is essential to understand what exactly causes snoring. Once you understand the causes of the snore, you can begin seeking a snoring remedy that really works.
While many believe that snoring originates in the nasal passages, this is not necessarily true. Indeed, the sound that characterizes snoring is caused by the vibration of any one of the tissues lining the airway.
When sleeping, the air that a non-snorer breathes passes through the nose or mouth into the lungs without interruption. The airway is clear and open and no sound beyond the normal passage of air occurs. But, sometimes there is some kind of blockage that prevents the air from passing through the nose and throat. This causes an uneven flow of air that makes the tissue surrounding that area vibrate, making the sound that we all know as a snore.
There are many different things that cause this blockage of the airway. In order to find a cure for a snoring problem, it is essential to understand exactly which one is causing the blockage. Then by clearing the blockage, air can pass unobstructed into the lungs and the snoring sound disappears.
The first area in which air can be blocked is in the nasal passage. There are many ways in which the airflow can be restricted in the nose. If a person has allergies or a cold, mucous builds up in the nasal passages, restricting the flow of air. Removing this mucous through decongestants can clear the airway, preventing the surrounding tissue from vibrating, thus preventing the snore. Other treatment options include nasal strips, such as Breath Right Nasal Strips, that open the airway externally, allowing the smooth passage of air through the nose.
Sometimes there is a structural abnormality in the nose such as a deviated septum. The septum is the cartilage that separates the two halves of the nose. Abnormalities in its structure or position can cause vibrations that result in a snore. A deviated septum can be hereditary, but more often it is the result of an injury such as a broken nose. Usually surgery can correct the structural problem, curing the snoring.
Not all snores originate in the nose. Often the snoring is caused by a blockage in the throat. One cause can be enlarged tonsils or adenoids, which are glands made up of lymphatic tissue used to counter infection. Unfortunately the tonsils and adenoids sometimes become overactive, or are simply too big to begin with. Removing them can greatly clear the airway, making it possible to sleep without snoring.
Another cause is excessive fatty tissue in the throat which blocks the passage of air, producing the vibration in the surrounding tissue that results in snoring. This can be simply the result of excess weight. There are surgical treatments available that are designed to cut away the excess fatty tissue in the throat either by scalpel or with a laser. Sometimes the cure for snoring is as simple as losing weight, thus reducing the excess fatty tissue as you lose fat throughout the body.
A person may even us a special mandibular advancement device such as a stop snoring mouthpiece to adjust their jaw and reduce the blockage of their airway.
While many believe that snoring originates in the nasal passages, this is not necessarily true. Indeed, the sound that characterizes snoring is caused by the vibration of any one of the tissues lining the airway.
When sleeping, the air that a non-snorer breathes passes through the nose or mouth into the lungs without interruption. The airway is clear and open and no sound beyond the normal passage of air occurs. But, sometimes there is some kind of blockage that prevents the air from passing through the nose and throat. This causes an uneven flow of air that makes the tissue surrounding that area vibrate, making the sound that we all know as a snore.
There are many different things that cause this blockage of the airway. In order to find a cure for a snoring problem, it is essential to understand exactly which one is causing the blockage. Then by clearing the blockage, air can pass unobstructed into the lungs and the snoring sound disappears.
The first area in which air can be blocked is in the nasal passage. There are many ways in which the airflow can be restricted in the nose. If a person has allergies or a cold, mucous builds up in the nasal passages, restricting the flow of air. Removing this mucous through decongestants can clear the airway, preventing the surrounding tissue from vibrating, thus preventing the snore. Other treatment options include nasal strips, such as Breath Right Nasal Strips, that open the airway externally, allowing the smooth passage of air through the nose.
Sometimes there is a structural abnormality in the nose such as a deviated septum. The septum is the cartilage that separates the two halves of the nose. Abnormalities in its structure or position can cause vibrations that result in a snore. A deviated septum can be hereditary, but more often it is the result of an injury such as a broken nose. Usually surgery can correct the structural problem, curing the snoring.
Not all snores originate in the nose. Often the snoring is caused by a blockage in the throat. One cause can be enlarged tonsils or adenoids, which are glands made up of lymphatic tissue used to counter infection. Unfortunately the tonsils and adenoids sometimes become overactive, or are simply too big to begin with. Removing them can greatly clear the airway, making it possible to sleep without snoring.
Another cause is excessive fatty tissue in the throat which blocks the passage of air, producing the vibration in the surrounding tissue that results in snoring. This can be simply the result of excess weight. There are surgical treatments available that are designed to cut away the excess fatty tissue in the throat either by scalpel or with a laser. Sometimes the cure for snoring is as simple as losing weight, thus reducing the excess fatty tissue as you lose fat throughout the body.
A person may even us a special mandibular advancement device such as a stop snoring mouthpiece to adjust their jaw and reduce the blockage of their airway.
Friday, March 5, 2010
How is Restless Leg Syndrome Treated?
Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome is usually aimed at reducing the symptoms. Often doctors recommend lifestyle changes that are designed to help promote sleep. These include reducing alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco intake, maintaining a regular sleep routine and bedtime, and altering a patient’s sleep patterns. Some suggest taking a supplement to correct a deficiency in iron, folate, or magnesium. Regular exercise has been shown to help reduce Restless Leg Syndrome, but it is important not to overdo it. Relaxation treatments such as leg massage, hot baths, or heating/cooling pads can sometimes help. Unfortunately, while these treatments help, they are not a cure for the condition.
There are some medications that have been shown to help with Restless Leg Syndrome. Dopaminergics, usually used to treat Parkinson’s disease, are generally considered the treatment of choice. The most commonly prescribed treatment is ropinirole, which is the only medication approved for the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Benzodiazepines are sometimes prescribed for mild cases, but act by depressing the system so that patients sleep more easily, rather than by relieving the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome. For patients with severe pain, doctors may try prescribing opioids such as codeine, propoxyphene, or oxycodone. Another option doctors may consider are anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and gabapentin, which reduce the physical sensations of creeping or itching that many patients experience.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Restless Leg Syndrome. While you can learn to cope with the problem, and plan your life around it, generally the condition worsens over time. Support groups are available to help those affected with this lifelong syndrome.
There are some medications that have been shown to help with Restless Leg Syndrome. Dopaminergics, usually used to treat Parkinson’s disease, are generally considered the treatment of choice. The most commonly prescribed treatment is ropinirole, which is the only medication approved for the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Benzodiazepines are sometimes prescribed for mild cases, but act by depressing the system so that patients sleep more easily, rather than by relieving the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome. For patients with severe pain, doctors may try prescribing opioids such as codeine, propoxyphene, or oxycodone. Another option doctors may consider are anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and gabapentin, which reduce the physical sensations of creeping or itching that many patients experience.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Restless Leg Syndrome. While you can learn to cope with the problem, and plan your life around it, generally the condition worsens over time. Support groups are available to help those affected with this lifelong syndrome.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
What is Restless Leg Syndrome?
Imagine lying down at night, trying to get some rest, but feeling a distinct urge to move. It could be just a tickle, or perhaps an itch, but it won’t go away, no matter how hard you work to ignore it. In fact, the only way to get rid of the feeling is to move.
Approximately 12 million Americans are affected by a mysterious condition called Restless Limb Syndrome. This neurological condition causes the affected person to experience strong sensations of needing to move the limbs, sensations characterized by an itching, creeping, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing feeling. These abnormal sensations can range from being merely uncomfortable to terribly irritating to painful. The only relief available is to move the affected limb. But this is only a temporary solution, for although the irritation stops when the limb is in motion, it begins again as soon as the affected person attempts to stay still.
Many people affected by Restless Limb Syndrome are embarrassed by their problem, and are afraid that a doctor would not believe their description of the symptoms. But Restless Leg Syndrome is a very real neurological problem that is not only irritating, but also can greatly reduce the quality of life.
There are four basic characteristics required for diagnosis.
A strong, almost irresistible urge to move the legs (or other limbs) that is characterized by an odd itching, pulling, creeping, tugging, gnawing, or creep-crawly sensation. The symptoms start or become worse when resting. The longer the period of rest, the more severe the symptoms. The symptoms are reduced or alleviated by movement. This relief begins shortly after beginning to move, but returns shortly after movement is ceased. The symptoms are worse in the evening. Often activities or positions that cause difficulty at night are not a problem during the day.
While there are no specific tests to diagnose Restless Limb Syndrome, it is possible for a doctor to make a diagnosis from a combination of the patient’s description of the condition and a sleep analysis. Additionally the doctor will likely take a series of blood tests to rule out other conditions which may cause similar symptoms.
Many times an underlying condition can be found to explain the syndrome. Some conditions that can cause Restless Leg Syndrome include anemia, late term pregnancy, low iron, kidney failure, Parkinson’s, and diabetes. When such causes are found and treated, the Restless Leg Syndrome usually goes away on its own. Unfortunately, not all cases have such a simple solution. In fact, it appears that at least 50% of cases of Restless Leg Syndrome are genetic.
Approximately 12 million Americans are affected by a mysterious condition called Restless Limb Syndrome. This neurological condition causes the affected person to experience strong sensations of needing to move the limbs, sensations characterized by an itching, creeping, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing feeling. These abnormal sensations can range from being merely uncomfortable to terribly irritating to painful. The only relief available is to move the affected limb. But this is only a temporary solution, for although the irritation stops when the limb is in motion, it begins again as soon as the affected person attempts to stay still.
Many people affected by Restless Limb Syndrome are embarrassed by their problem, and are afraid that a doctor would not believe their description of the symptoms. But Restless Leg Syndrome is a very real neurological problem that is not only irritating, but also can greatly reduce the quality of life.
There are four basic characteristics required for diagnosis.
A strong, almost irresistible urge to move the legs (or other limbs) that is characterized by an odd itching, pulling, creeping, tugging, gnawing, or creep-crawly sensation. The symptoms start or become worse when resting. The longer the period of rest, the more severe the symptoms. The symptoms are reduced or alleviated by movement. This relief begins shortly after beginning to move, but returns shortly after movement is ceased. The symptoms are worse in the evening. Often activities or positions that cause difficulty at night are not a problem during the day.
While there are no specific tests to diagnose Restless Limb Syndrome, it is possible for a doctor to make a diagnosis from a combination of the patient’s description of the condition and a sleep analysis. Additionally the doctor will likely take a series of blood tests to rule out other conditions which may cause similar symptoms.
Many times an underlying condition can be found to explain the syndrome. Some conditions that can cause Restless Leg Syndrome include anemia, late term pregnancy, low iron, kidney failure, Parkinson’s, and diabetes. When such causes are found and treated, the Restless Leg Syndrome usually goes away on its own. Unfortunately, not all cases have such a simple solution. In fact, it appears that at least 50% of cases of Restless Leg Syndrome are genetic.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
How is Narcolepsy Treated?
While narcolepsy can manifest in patients between the ages of 10 and 25, it typically appears in patients between the ages of 35 and 45. According to the National Institute of Neurological and Stroke Disorders, there is no cure for narcolepsy. Physicians can and do prescribe amphetamines to help patients combat the most debilitating symptoms such as suddenly falling asleep. Some antidepressants can help control hallucinations. In 1999, the FDA approved a non-amphetamine based wake drug that provides a stimulant to keep the brain in a waking cycle.
Narcolepsy, like many other neurological disorders, requires an adjustment of lifestyle for the patient. They have to manage their condition and use the prescriptions to help their symptoms. Research continues to seek why the condition occurs in order to find a cure or prevention.
If a person suspects that they suffer from narcolepsy or other sleep disorder, they should consult their physician for a sleep study, diagnosis and treatment.
Narcolepsy, like many other neurological disorders, requires an adjustment of lifestyle for the patient. They have to manage their condition and use the prescriptions to help their symptoms. Research continues to seek why the condition occurs in order to find a cure or prevention.
If a person suspects that they suffer from narcolepsy or other sleep disorder, they should consult their physician for a sleep study, diagnosis and treatment.
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