Is snoring causing you to lose sleep? Well, there is good news. There are hundreds of products available that claim to reduce or eliminate altogether irritating and sleep depriving snoring. Depending on the cause of your snoring, some of these products can be quite effective and result in a good nights sleep.

First, you must determine if your snoring is Primary or Obstructive. Primary snoring simply that – noisy breathing while you sleep without apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious condition that requires medical attention. Left unattended, sleep apnea (which is the cessation of respiration for 10 seconds or more) can result in strokes and heart attacks.

Basically, all snoring is caused by a blockage of air in the nasal passages. This creates vibrations which result in the sound of snoring. These blockages can be induced by inflammation and swelling, excessive tissue, your tongue falling back in your throat, sleep position, and your jaw dropping back. Sometimes, just changing your sleep position can cease snoring. For instance, if your jaw is dropping back, sleeping on your side will end the problem.

Sprays

There are numerous throat and nasal sprays on the market that reduce inflammation which is a major contributor to snoring. Some are herbal based with nut oils. The premise is to tighten throat muscles and reduce swelling in nasal passages. Some of the products promise to moisten the airways. Check the contents on the labels to determine if the product is right for you. If you are unsure of the ingredients, ask your pharmacist. Long term use of sprays can be addictive and depending on the ingredients, may be harmful to your health. All natural products are plentiful and may meet your requirements.

Pillows

Since position can induce snoring, the use of pillows can have good results. If you are a back sleeper and cannot sleep in any other position, you need to hyper extend your throat by elevating your head or placing a small pillow under your neck. There are many pillows on the market that are specially designed for this purpose. A pillow placed at your back will keep you off your back and on your side which is a good anti-snoring sleep position. Chin pillows are available that are worn around your neck keeping you jaw forward and preventing your tongue from dropping back into your throat passage. Most pillows are inexpensive and can produce great results. You just need to find the one that suits you.

Snore Guards and Mandible Devices

These are mouth pieces that are designed to pull the jaw and tongue forward, thereby opening the throat passages. They can be purchased over the counter or professionally made by dental specialists. These can be effective if your snoring is caused by a relaxed tongue back and obstructing the back of your throat. They have an additional benefit of helping prevent grinding or clenching your teeth.

Nasal Dilators

Made of flexible plastic, these devises are placed in your nostrils to keep the nasal passages open allowing free flow of air. A similar product that is used exteriorly is nasal strips. These are placed on the outside of your nose and pull the passages open. These are inexpensive and readily available without a prescription. Breath right is one of the most popular nasal strips on the market. Athletes can be seen wearing these to increase their oxygenation while actively participating in their sport. A similar product is chin strips. These are adhesive backed u-shaped patches that are applied to your chin to prevent mouth breathing. The adhesive in both these strips may be irritating to your skin, especially if you prolong use.

Electronic Devices

Placed on your wrist similar to a watch, these devices sense snoring sounds and emit a light electrical impulse that causes the wearer to change sleep position without waking.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)

Air is forced through a face mask from a pump, applying continual pressure to keep the throat open. This is the treatment of choice used by physicians to treat obstructive sleep apnea. While this is a very effective device, it is cumbersome and many users stop using it in less than a year.