For many people, snoring is more than just a minor nuisance. Around 25 percent of people in the United States, more men than women, snore habitually enough to disturb their own rest and that of their partner, the American Academy of Otolaryngology states. Habitual snoring can cause potentially serious health problems such as sleep apnea, which are periods of not breathing. Snoring doesn't have a single cause; being overweight, palate malformations, alcohol abuse and other factors can cause snoring. Anti-snoring devices offer hope for a good night's sleep for snorers and their families. Some work better than others.
Nasal Strips
Adhesive nasal strips fit across the bridge of the nose to widen the air passage. Nasal strips may help snorers who have had broken noses or other nasal surgery, or who have malformations of the nasal passages. While these strips may work for people with narrowed nasal passages, it probably won't help snorers whose snoring is related to problems with the throat's soft palate, according to Dale H. Rice, M.D., professor of neurosurgery at the University of Southern California School of Medicine.
Oral Appliances
MayoClinic.com describes oral appliances as devices that fit into the mouth to change the position of the mouth and soft palate to reduce snoring. Some devices also keep the tongue from falling back and obstructing the airway, according to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Checking the fit every six months for the first year and annually thereafter ensures maximum benefit from using an oral appliance. Side effects of oral appliances include excess salivation and face and jaw pain.
CPAP
Continuous positive air pressure devices, better known as CPAP machines, treat obstructive sleep apnea, which causes the sufferer to stop breathing for 10 seconds or more many times during the night. Sleep apnea leads to chronic fatigue, high blood pressure and excessive daytime sleepiness. A mask that fits over the face delivers enough pressure to keep the airway open during the night.
Masks can cause claustrophobia and local skin irritation across the bridge of the nose, leading to long-term compliance of around 70 percent, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Despite the inconvenience and discomfort, CPAP remains the most effective non-surgical method of treating severe snoring caused by sleep apnea, says the University of California Irvine Health Services. Other side effects include eye irritation and conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infections, nasal conjunction and dry throat, the University of Maryland Medical Center states.
