Anti-snoring devices?

March 28, 2010 6:17 AM

Anti-snoring devices? I've tried a few, but do you know of any that work? My snoring is in the back of my throat, and isn't linked to whether I lie on my back etc. Read on to learn what I've tried.

1. Breathe-Easy Strips. Seem to work a little but not reliably.

2. Spraying with decongestant/taking decongestant tablets. Seem to work a little but not a great deal.

3. Spraying up the nose with allergy sprays. Again, works a little but not a great deal.

posted by humblepigeon to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

If the decongestant and allergy sprays have had mild success, I wonder if elevating your head might also work? The idea being that when you lay down your sinuses are filling up, and sleeping with your head elevated will allow them to drain. You can buy little wedges for the purpose, or use several pillows.

Have you seen a doctor about this? They might be able to tell you whether the snoring is a result of allergies or a sinus infection, or something physiological, or sleep apnea. If OTC treatments haven't worked, that should be the next step.
posted by Fui Non Sum at 6:30 AM on March 28, 2010

Do yourself a favor and go see an ear, nose and throat specialist about this.

I had a sleep study done last fall and found that my sleep apnea was interrupting my sleep 37 times per hour. I was put on a CPAP machine and have felt much better since.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:35 AM on March 28, 2010

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is nearly always effective, but not everyone tolerates it well. It completely stops my snoring.
posted by Snerd at 6:37 AM on March 28, 2010

Seconding Fleebnork. Also, irrigating my sinuses with saline really helped my allergies. I simply could not breathe through my nose before, and I was taking antihistamines daily. Now I take them once every few weeks, if that.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:40 AM on March 28, 2010

Nth-ing a CPAP machine (or at least going to a sleep specialist to discuss one). Mr. Peter Petridish had a snoring problem a bit ago, got a CPAP machine, and now regularly tells people at dinner parties how much it has changed his life. As a bonus side effect, I now can sleep through the night because it has completely solved his snoring.
posted by Peter Petridish at 7:22 AM on March 28, 2010

My husband snored for years and years. One day I randomly bought new pillows. The next morning while he was sleeping and I was getting ready for work, I realized that he wasn't snoring and I seriously thought he had died in his sleep. After making sure he was still breathing, I went to work and spent the next few hours trying to figure out what we had done differently. Finally, I remembered the new pillows. We are now on about a 6-month schedule for new pillows. I buy a new one whenever he starts snoring again. YMMV.
posted by raisingsand at 7:50 AM on March 28, 2010

In addition to CPAP machines, there are also mouth appliances which can help. I know someone who was still snoring with CPAP and found relief when he added a mouthguard.

However, you should see a doctor before buying a mouthguard over the internet. If you do have sleep apnea that can put alot of strain on your heart.
posted by cabingirl at 8:24 AM on March 28, 2010

SEE A DOCTOR. It is important to be screened for sleep apnea, as untreated it can cause strokes and heart attacks. I'm not kidding.

Hubby has the cpap machine and life is much better. Without it I am convinced I would have been a widow.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:13 AM on March 28, 2010

Try not drinking any alcohol after 6pm before you go to all this trouble.

And I respectively submit that this question has been asked before.
posted by cda at 9:23 AM on March 28, 2010

If your snoring is a serious problem for you, I recommend going to see a ENT or sleep specialist. They may help you find a solution (such as a CPAC machine, as others have suggested) that helps reduce or eliminate your snoring and make your night much more restful. Just as a data point, my dad could wake the dead with his snoring, then he had an operation to remove his uvula. His snoring is still really awful. :\
posted by gumtree at 9:44 AM on March 28, 2010

One thing you might try before going the CPAP route is to simply elevate the head of your bed by about two inches. MY Pulminologist suggested this for both snoring and GERT. It made a world of difference and I never advanced to the CPAP. Get a couple of blocks of wood and put them under the legs of your bed at the head. (Not advised if you sleep in a water bed :-) If this works, you can make a more permanent solution. For the first couple of nights you will feel like you are sliding to the bottom of the bed, but that sensation goes away soon. This has worked for me for almost three years now.

If this doesn't work, it's on to CPAP.
posted by Old Geezer at 11:40 AM on March 28, 2010

I don't know if this is your situation or not.

You see, I am a horrible snorer. As in, whole house can hear me snore.

My solution? I lost 30lbs. My snoring stopped immediately. Again, this may not be your case and more of a long-term solution rather than a device or technique to be applied.
posted by damionbroadaway at 12:46 PM on March 28, 2010

Nthing those who have said see a doctor and get screened for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is nothing to fool around with! It can cause death from a stroke or heart attack. And yes, you can be skinny and have apnea - especially if you have an overbite/big teeth/small jaw (mom has big teeth and a small jaw and has apnea, despite being a small woman).

CPAP machines these days are quiet and non-invasive (nasal pillows instead of a full-face mask). And believe me any sleep partner you might have would MUCH rather listen to a CPAP than horrid snoring - and if you have apnea, you no doubt gasp, gurgle, and stop breathing, which really scares the bejabbers out of your sleep partner. (I speak from experience.)

Only a doctor/sleep study can tell you whether you just snore (and can stop it with Flonase and/or Breathe-Right strips) or whether you have sleep apnea (which is serious business).
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 3:34 PM on March 28, 2010 [1 favorite]