Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

5 Snoring Treatment Tips

If like me you sound like a bear growling a cave when your asleep, then you will no that snoring has a big impact on life. Regardless of the health issues (which are significant), snoring can play havoc with your relationship.


If you are at you wits end with being woken up every hour either to the sound of your own snoring, or being dug in the back and told to “Roll Over”; or if you are the long suffering sufferer of a snorer, then read over these five tips to snoring treatment.


SNORING TREATMENT TIP 1.


Take a look at your diet. Although this probably won’t be the complete snoring treatment answer, it is worth starting with what you’re eating and drinking. You could well have intolerance to certain foods which affects your breathing, especially when lying on you back. For example, too much (or an intolerance to) dairy produce is likely to cause you to become blocked up with mucus, when horizontal, this collects causing heavy breathing and snoring. Alcohol is another common offender.


SNORING TREATMENT TIP 2.


Being overweight is another significant contributor. Excess weight in the neck and chest puts pressure on the breathing passage.


SNORING TREATMENT TIP 3


Sleep on you side or front. Now this is easier said than done, because it’s hard to control your sleeping position when you are asleep! However, there is an old trick that may be worth considering. You could sow a walnut, table tennis ball or similar size object into the back of a shirt and wear that in bed. Each time you roll on your back it will dig into you, causing you to roll back again – providing you don’t take your shirt of in your sleep.


SNORING TREATMENT TIP 4


Use nasal strips. I found these to be very helpful, at least to start with. Nasal strips (often used by athletes) open the air passage for you, thus removing or preventing blockages. If your desperate it’s worth a try, but the cost can add up over the days, months and years.


SNORING TREATMENT TIP 5


I’ve saved the best until last. Exercising the muscles in your throat, tongue and doing breathing exercises can completely cure your snoring. For more detailed information and more tips go to http://stop-snoring-treatment.com


Tips on Choosing the Right CPAP Nasal Pillows in Toronto

Frequently, the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines and masks are covered by insurance. CPAP nasal pillows, in Toronto as in other parts of the country, are often included in the insurance coverage but you have to inquire from your carrier lest you pay for your CPAP supplies more than expected.

Once you have settled the insurance aspect, the next logical step is to choose the right CPAP nasal pillows in Toronto, where there are many manufacturers of CPAP machines, for you.

Determine Sleeping Habits

As much as not all CPAP sufferers have the same sleeping habits down to the last snore, in the same way not all CPAP nasal pillows in Toronto, or anywhere else for that matter, are created equal. That being said, you have to determine your sleeping habits to get the right CPAP pillows for you.

If you are a stomach and side sleeper who toss and turn around in sleep, then larger CPAP pillows are best for you. You will have ease of changing positions without coming up short with larger pillows, not to mention that fact that larger pillows often provide a more flexible support.

If you are a side sleeper who can maintain the position for hours at a time, then a smaller pillow with the same design will do. You can even bring it on your overnight travels! (Never do without the right CPAP nasal pillows in Toronto and everywhere else because your headgear needs all the support it can get so as not to fall off your head. The steady air pressure brought by the CPAP machine is necessary for a good night’s sleep)

Determine Type of Mask Used

Your mask must be able to blend in with the CPAP pillow. With trial and error, you should be able to find the right CPAP nasal pillow that can accommodate the type of CPAP mask you wear especially when you consider that space factors figure prominently in the equation.

You can also ask your doctor for a prescription of a different type of CPAP mask. For example, one with a longer tube can provide for more freedom even when the nasal pillow is on the shorter side.

You can also look for CPAP nasal pillows that provide titrations for the mask itself and for your ears, neck, head and shoulders. This way, you are assured of fewer pressure points and greater comfort while you sleep.

As previously stated, trial and error is often the best way to find the right CPAP nasal pillows in Toronto and everywhere else.

In conclusion, always keep in mind that the use of CPAP as a remedy and relief from sleep apnea symptoms largely relies on your proper use and wear of the device. This means that it should stay in place the whole time you wear it. The right CPAP nasal pillows provide hollowed spaces that should support and protect your device while giving you a good night’s sleep with their firm support on your head.


Snoring Solutions- 5 Tips to Stop Snoring

Trying to stop snoring can be frustrating and a hassle. It can also be aggravating. Especially when it makes it difficult for you to sleep. So, what I’m going to do is share with you some snoring solutions. That way, you won’t ever have to worry about snoring again.

The snoring solutions are:

1. Sleep On Your Side. The first way to stop snoring is to sleep on your side. When you sleep on your back, you cause your air passages to become blocked. So, by sleeping on your side, you help keep your air passages open.

2. Don’t Eat Dairy. Make sure you don’t eat any dairy products before you go to bed. This includes yogurt and milk products. If you do, it could cause you to snore.

3. Elevate Your Head. When your head is in a low position, it can cause you to block your airways. To prevent this from happening, add a pillow to sleep on. This will help you from snoring.

4. Nasal Drops. Another snoring solution is to use nasal drops. The drops will help open your nostrils.

5. Eat Honey. Eating honey before bed is another solution to help you stop snoring. You should eat a teaspoon of honey right before you go to bed.

6. Lose Weight. If you are overweight, it could be a reason why you snore. By losing weight, you will be able to prevent yourself from snoring. A good way to lose weight fast is to exercise (walk, jog, swim, run, weight train), drink plenty of water, and eat a healthy meal every two hours.


Cure for Snoring- 5 Simple Tips to Cure Snoring

Trying to cure your snoring can be frustrating. Especially when you have tried other things that didn’t work. So, what I’m going to do is share with you a cure for snoring. That way, you will be able to stop your snoring for good.

The tips to cure snoring are:

1. Eat Honey. Before going to bed, you should eat a teaspoon of honey. This will help cure your snoring.

2. Sleep On Your Side. Sleeping on your side is another cure for snoring. When you sleep on your back, you could block your air passages, which causes you to snore. So, make sure you sleep on your side.

3. Don’t Eat Dairy Before Bed. Make sure you don’t eat any milk or yogurt products before going to bed. If you do, it could cause you to snore.

4. Elevate Your Head. When going to bed, add another pillow to sleep on. When your head is in a low position, it will cause you to block your airways. So, be sure to add another pillow.

5. Losing Weight. This is another cure for snoring. Sometime, being overweight can cause you to snore. To lose weight quickly, you should drink plenty of water (8 glasses a day), eat a healthy meal every two hours, and exercise (weight training, jogging, walking, swimming).

This is the cure for snoring. If you are serious about stopping your snoring, you should do something about it now. If you wait too long to do something, it could be dangerous to you and your loved ones.


7 Tips For Better Nasal Breathing

Most people take breathing through their nose for granted. But for many chronic mouth breathers, breathing through the nose is a struggle, if not impossible. Not only is their quality of life diminished, but they’ll also have a variety of other health-related conditions such as dry mouth, snoring, fatigue, and poor sleep. In my last article I addressed 5 reasons why it’s important to breathe through your nose. In this article, I’ll talk about 7 ways that you can breathe better through your nose naturally.

Before I discuss the various ways to breathe better, a short anatomy course in in order. The nasal septum is a thin piece of cartilage and bone that splits your nasal cavity right down the middle. No one has a perfectly straight septum; everyone’s septum is slightly curved. Sometimes, nasal trauma can shift or move the septum away from its’ midline position. The nasal turbinates are wing-like structures that line the sidewalls of your nose. It’s covered with a mucous membrane, and normally it helps to smooth, warm and humidify air. The turbinates and sinuses also produce about 2 pints of mucous every day. The turbinates swell and shrink, alternating from side to side every few hours. This is called the nasal cycle.

The front side walls make up your nostrils, which are soft cartilages covered on the inside and outside with skin. The back of your nose is one big cavity (called the nasopharynx), and the passageway turns down 90 degrees into the back of your throat. The nasopharynx is also where your ears connect via the Eustachian tubes.

If any part of the anatomy that I described becomes obstructed partially or completely, you’ll feel stuffy in your nose. Usually it’s not one thing, but usually due to a combination of different reasons. For example, if you have a mildly deviated septum, suffering from mild allergies will swell up your nasal turbinates, narrowing you nasal passageways. This may not be enough to clog up your nose, but if you have flimsy nostrils or had rhinoplasty in the past that weakened the nostrils, then breathing in with a stuffy nose may trigger your nostrils to collapse.

Starting from the tip of your nose, the first thing you must do is to find out if you have flimsy nostrils. If you have a very narrow nose, or if your nostril openings are very narrow and slit-like, then you may be prone to having flimsy nostrils. Try this experiment: Take both index fingers and press them just besides your nostrils on your cheek. While firmly pressing on your cheeks, lift the cheek skin upwards and sideways, pointing towards the outer corners of your eyes. Take a deep breath in. Can you breathe much better through your nose? Let go and try it again. If this maneuver works for you, you may benefit from using nasal dilator strips at night (one brand is called Breathe-Rite). Sometimes, the adhesives on these devices are not strong enough, or end up irritating the skin. Another way of treating this condition are various internal dilators (such as Nozovent, Breathewitheez, Nasal cones) that you can find over the counter or over the internet.

Second, try using nasal saline sprays. You can use the simple spray bottles that put out a fine mist, to more sophisticated methods such as aerosol cans or even using a Water-pik machine (there’s a nasal adaptor that you can buy for this). Another popular variation is something called a Nedi-pot, which uses gravity to pour salt water into your nose and sinuses. You can either use prepared saline packages, or mix your own recipe (one cup of lukewarm water and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt or Kosher salt with a pinch of baking soda). Whatever method you use, you’ll have to do it frequently to get maximum results. Besides cleansing out mucous, pollutants and allergens, saline also acts as a mild decongestant.

Third, try not to eat anything within three hours of going to bed. If you still have food or juices lingering in your stomach when you go to bed, it can leak up passively into your throat and not only prevent a good night’s sleep, but these same juices can also leak up into your nose, causing swelling and inflammation. In addition, many people will also stop breathing once in a while, which creates a vacuum effect in the throat which actively suctions up your stomach juices into your throat and nose.

Fourth, try to avoid drinking alcohol close to bedtime. Not only does alcohol irritate the stomach, it also relaxes your throat muscles as you sleep, which aggravates the process described in the previous paragraph.

Fifth, if you have any known allergies, especially if it’s something in your bedroom, try to either remove it or or lessen your exposure to it. For example, many people are allergic to dust or molds, and if you have carpeting, or an area rug, it can harbor these allergens. Frequently washing your bed sheets in very hot water also helps. Investing in a quality HEPA filter should help even more. If you have any pets, consider keeping them out of your bedroom. If conservative measure to control allergies is not good enough, consider seeing an allergist for a more formal evaluation.

Sixth, get regular exercise, especially outdoors. Not only are you exercising your heart and your muscles, you’re also exercising the nervous system in your nose. Vigorous physical activity activates your sympathetic nervous system, which constricts the blood vessels that supply your nasal turbinates. This allows you to breathe better through your nose, with all the added benefits described in my previous article.

Lastly, slow down and relax. Modern society has removed all the natural built-in breaks throughout the day. Along with all the information overload and constant stimulation, going nonstop all day only adds to the increased stress levels that everyone experiences. In between major activities, take a minute or so to stop what you’re doing and stretch, get up and move around, and do some deep-breathing exercises. Stress can tense up the muscles, causing you to breathe shallower, which causes physiologic changes that can ultimately aggravate nasal congestion.

These simple 7 steps won’t help everyone, but If you can go down the list and apply all the steps, many if not most of you should feel some improvement in your ability to breathe through your nose. If you’ve tried all these steps and still can’t breathe through your nose, then seek medial help. An otolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat doctor) is the best doctor to take care of this condition.

If you are a chronic mouth breather, in addition to what I described above, your jaw is probably more narrow than normal, with some degree of dental crowding. Chronic mouth breathers also tend not to sleep well at night due to various degrees of breathing difficulty. I discuss these issues in my other articles (sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome).