How to stop irritating snoring
It’s 3 a.m. and you’re still awake! Why? You’re at home, but someone in the house is snoring so loud that the walls are shaking!
About 50 million Americans snore, so probably some of you reading this article can relate. You’re either the snorer or the one irritated by the snorer. And many of you can add your own night after night individual scenario. I recently read an ecard that said, “I love you so much, except when you snore, I just want to punch you in the face!” One night my wife and I were at a motel in Glacier Park, Montana and the guest in the next room snored so loudly that my wife decided to go sleep in our car in the parking lot. That was too dangerous, so we just got up and left in the middle of the night and went home! So much for that vacation.
And of course the lack of sleep — not for the one snoring, but for everyone within earshot — leads to irritability, daytime drowsiness, inability to concentrate, and interference with response time behind the wheel. There is absolutely no way to spoil a vacation better or faster that with cranky, overtired kids and/or adults. Or an untimely car accident due to drowsy driving.
This snoring problem can be easily avoided by getting the snorer treatment. And this is the best way because snoring is usually a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea which has been linked to many major problems. Some of these are excessive daytime tiredness, memory impairment, moodiness, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, hormone problems, erectile dysfunction, workplace accidents, risk of auto accident, cancer, and even death. Treatment for snoring involves either CPAP or a custom oral appliance fabricated by a trained dentist. Of course, the oral appliance is the preferred treatment, since you don’t have to find an electrical outlet for the machine or deal with the filthy biofilm on the inside of that long tube. You just insert the oral appliance in your mouth and the snoring can be stopped. And don’t try any of those Internet hoaxes; they don’t work.
But if you are not the one snoring and want to get a good night’s rest, you may want to buy a soundproof tent and pitch it about 100-200 yards behind some rocks and trees. You could take sedatives, wear ear plugs, try headphones, or camp near a very noisy waterfall. The best thing you can do is help the snorer get treatment, because it is usually an indication that the one snoring has obstructive sleep apnea, which will take 8-10 years on average off their life — and they don’t even know that they snore. You’ve got to tell them!
Snorers, this is what the world thinks of when you keep them awake! Their calm, loving attitude becomes a fit of rage. They try the “pillow ear wrap” but it doesn’t work. 5-10 minutes go by and no letup. Now it is 30 minutes, and all they can think of is how to get the noise to turn off without offending you, while you are offending them.
It’s just about summer, and you could have the snoring gone before that vacation or cruise. And it is easy with oral appliance therapy, since there is no electricity required. Don’t the people around you deserve their sleep? And if you don’t get your problem treated, remember that the life of a non-snoring person can be one of nearly hysterical behavior due to their lack of sleep. No wonder snoring is a leading cause of divorce.
Dr. Donald Johnson founded Northwest Treatment Center for Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Coeur d’Alene to help patients stop their snoring and live free with no limits! His office is at 114 W. Neider Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, near Costco. The website for more information is www.NWSleepDoc.com and the office phone is (208) 667-4551. Schedule a free consultation appointment today!