Snoring & Sleep Apnoea
The main cause of snoring is the partial closure of the airway during sleep. During sleep muscles in the neck relax and for some people the soft tissue in the upper throat vibrates, which makes the sound we know as snoring.
What Are The Effects Of Snoring
Snoring is more than just a loud noise. It leads to broken sleep for snorers and their partner. This can have a profound impact on their quality of life as it can be embarrassing and create marriage problems.
Research has shown that 60% of patients who snore have less sex and in 80% of cases they sleep in separate rooms. In addition, some snorers also stop breathing – a medical condition called Sleep Apnoea. This is caused by the airway closing completely during sleep thereby preventing snorers from breathing. This condition is called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
YOUR SNORING COULD BE A SIGN OF A MORE SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION
Snoring Treatments
The four clinically proven snoring treatments are Mandibular Advancement Splint therapy, CPAP, Losing weight and Surgery.
1. Mandibular Advancement Splints
Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) are customised mouth pieces made for each patient to be worn at night time to treat snoring.
Essential Dental Care currently are certified providers of the SOMNOWELL and the SLEEPWELL appliances.
2. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is the gold standard for sufferers of severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, There are many types of CPAP equipment and a number of CPAP products.
CPAP treatment is not recommended for the treatment of simple snoring.
3. Losing weight
Loss of weight can reduce or stop snoring and there are numerous other health benefits but it is a gradual process.
4. Snoring Surgery
There are a number of snoring surgery options but they are not always successful and can be extremely painful. We recommend this as the last option to stop snoring.
There are a number of readily available “off the shelf” products, which purport to offer a snoring treatment. As far as we are aware these treatments are not clinically tested and do not involve contact with a trained healthcare professional.
If you undergo treatment without seeing a healthcare professional then you may miss diagnosing the more severe condition of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and the related medical complications.
