Beyond Common Knowledge

OPENING UP THE SINUS CAVITIES CAN HELP YOU stop snoring.

It’s really not natural to breathe through the mouth, whether asleep or awake. However, this happens when sleeping for a variety of reasons, such as sleep position, relaxation of the jaw, and clogged sinuses.

If you pinch your nose shut of course you’re going to begin breathing through your mouth. The same thing happens during sleep if your nasal passages are blocked. The mouth falls open to enable you to breathe. Obviously this is a lifesaving habit, but one that causes snoring if your throat is dry. So, keeping the sinuses open and the mouth closed is a good first step to avoiding this problem overall.

The throat does not have the same coatings on it as does the nose. Inside your nose are mucus membranes that are specifically designed to keep it moist as your breathe. But when you breathe through your mouth, the air causes your throat to dry up, and then that vibrating noise starts up.

To keep yourself from doing this, you need to keep your nasal cavities clear and open, and your mouth shut.

Oils and natural substances.

There are some natural remedies for keeping the sinuses unclogged throughout the night. Eucalyptus and menthol oils are both very good for opening the sinuses. You may have even seen products that boast that they contain “mentholyptus,” when in reality there is no such product - this is just a combination of the eucalyptus and menthol together. Both can easily be found at any health food store, pharmacy, or even grocery store. Putting a few drops of oil under your nose before you go to bed can help keep your sinuses moist and clear throughout the night. Sometimes just having a jar of it in the room helps as well (with the top off of course!).

You might also consider purchasing a vaporizer wherein you can add some of these oils or products, and they will be dispersed throughout the night. Check the manufacturer’s directions of course as to what can and cannot be added; you don’t want to ruin the little machine by dumping in things that are too thick or that will burn out the engine. Some come with a supply of oil or additives already includes, or have a list of items that can be purchased separately and used. Most are very affordable, so don’t hesitate to try one out.

Marjoram oil is another popular choice. It is sold in small jars with a sponge soaked in the oil inside. You simply open up the jar by your bedside each night and allow the fragrance to fill the room, opening up your sinus cavities throughout the evening. Marjoram is used frequently in aromatherapy applications, as it is very soothing and helps one to breathe deeper and more freely.

Sleeping position.

We’ve all heard of rolling a snorer onto his or her side during the night; this is done because the position in which you sleep can cause your mouth to fall open and air to naturally pass through your throat.

Even if your sinuses are not blocked, when your mouth is open you’re going to be doing some breathing through it. This is just natural because the throat is so much bigger than the nose.

If you sleep on your back, chances are that your head is going to fall back and your mouth tilt open. This is especially true if you don’t have proper support for your head and neck, such as with soft or worn-out pillows.

So-called snore pillows can work wonders for this problem. They are usually made of a firmer foam than other pillows and so do not collapse under the weight of the user. Most are built with a small indentation or cup feature which cradles the neck and keeps the head in proper alignment with the spine. By keeping the head tilted up the way it should be, the mouth will be less likely to fall open. If you don’t want to try a snore pillow, consider just getting a firmer pillow than what you have, or trying a couple of pillows together.

You can also use pillows to prop yourself up under your back and one hip. This will keep you from sleeping completely on your back and will tilt you just slightly. By doing this, you are less likely to have your head fall back and your mouth fall open.

An old trick that many people use is to prop up the front of their bed. You can put books under the front feet, which will tilt the bed up slightly. No need to use big dictionaries or encyclopedias; these may even be unsafe if the bed were to slide off of them. But just some type of thick sturdy book will probably do. Even just having the bed up an inch or two can make a tremendous difference in keeping your head in alignment with your spine.

For those who have the money to spend, you can also consider getting an adjustable bed where the head and feet can be individually adjusted. These are great for those who have a sleeping companion that perhaps is not comfortable with moving the bed. Of course they may cost a bit more than regular mattresses, but sometimes they are comparable in price. If you’re in the market for a new bed or new mattresses anyway, you might consider looking at one of these.

Others try the standard method of sewing or taping tennis balls into the back of their pajamas, in order to keep themselves from sleeping on their back. The theory is that when you roll onto your back, the tennis balls are very uncomfortable and will make you naturally change position.

The only problem with this is that many people report waking up many times in the night because they are SO uncomfortable. If you want to try that, and are handy with a needle and thread or some Velcro, then go ahead, but usually it’s best to try the other, more comfortable methods first.

Besides, what happens when it’s time to play tennis?

Asthma, allergies, and other medical conditions.

If you have asthma or allergies, or collapsing sinuses due to old age or another condition, or anything else that is going to make breathing through your nose difficult, you need to have these conditions addressed.

Some can use the above remedies as a means to open their sinus cavities, while others will need to take medications or see their doctor. Some cases of asthma need to be addressed by a doctor or specialist specifically, as they can be even life-threatening if left untreated.

If you have any of these conditions and are under a doctor’s care, follow his or her advice to the letter. Breathing problems can be dangerous if left unchecked.

USING “SNORE PRODUCTS.”

There are a wealth of so-called “snore products” on the market today, some that work wonders for snorers and some of which are better ignored. How can you tell if a product is going to be right for you?

Obviously we could list every single product that’s available at the pharmacy and online and give you a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” as to the general opinion of them, but this wouldn’t be possible or fair. Some products may not help one person but might do a world of good for another. Why does this happen?

The real reason behind this, and what can help you better decide whether or not one will or will not work for you, is to remember that while snoring is caused by air passing over the dry membranes of the throat, this happens for different reasons for different people. Some sleep in a improper position that causes their mouth to fall open. Some have blocked sinus cavities, whether due to allergies, collapsing sinuses, or bad weather.

If you understand just why it is that you snore, then you can better understand the remedies that will make it stop. Snore pillows can keep you on your side, nasal strips can keep your nose open, throat sprays can keep your mouth hydrated, and so on.

Hopefully this brief report has helped you to consider some options you have that don’t include going under the knife. Again, if your doctor says this is the only thing that will work for you and that your problem is so serious that surgery is your only choice, then obviously you should listen to him or her. But the truth is that the vast majority of snorers can be helped by trying one or more of the remedies that we’ve outlined in this book.

However, there are others that need specialized help - not surgery, mind you, but more serious information about snoring, it’s damaging effect on you and your family, and what can be done about it. There are some surprising causes of this habit, and information that your doctor just won’t tell you. To find this out, visit our website, www.websitehere.com, for more information and to find out how you too can be free of snoring and finally enjoy a good night’s sleep, tonight and every night.