A recent survey of 523 individuals attending the Chicago Health Fair found that African Americans had an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea but that they were less likely than white subjects to be encouraged to seek treatment. More than 30 percent of blacks but only 18 percent of white subjects considered snoring to be normal. [SOURCE: “African Americans Need More Education on Sleep Apnea,” Family Practice News, December 15, 2005]

Buy Snoring Devices Wisely
                                                                                               

More than 300 anti-snoring devices have been registered, some clearly more effective than others. Rather than going to the internet or a health food store, it’s wise to seek help from a pharmacist, doctor or medical professional to make sure the device you buy fits properly and is appropriate for the person’s snoring or sleeping problem.
[SOURCE: W. Steven Pray, “Consult your pharmacist–snoring: a common sleep-disrupter,” U.S. Pharmacist 25(7),2000]

Exactly How Loud Do You Snore?
                                                                                               

The louder you snore, the greater your risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure as well as accidents related to sleep deprivation.

Severity of snoring, from the bed partner’s point of view, is graded at four levels:

·      Grade 1: heard only if you lean over the person’s face,

·      Grade 2: heard in the bedroom,

·      Grade 3: heard just outside the bedroom with door open,

·      Grade 4: heard outside the bedroom with the door closed.

[SOURCE: “Snoring,” Mayoclinic.com, July 15, 2005]

Make Music, Not Snores                                                                                                           

If you’re a snorer with obstructive sleep apnea, you might consider using your musical talents to relieve your symptoms. A small study published in the British Medical Journal found that sleep apnea patients who spent 25 minutes a day playing the didgeridoo, a wind musical instrument of the Australian Aborigines, had less daytime sleepiness. Another preliminary study found decreased snoring in persons performing prescribed singing exercises for 20 minutes a day.
 
In both cases, the positive effect is believed to come from increased muscle tone in the upper throat and soft palate.
[SOURCE: “Snoring,” MayoClinic.Com,, May 24, 2008]

Sleep Apnea: Not for Obese Only

Despite the classic profile, not all persons suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are overweight, middle-aged males. One recent study found that 20 percent of patients were normal weight or thin and that these patients were more likely to be over age 50 and to use sedatives compared to the patients who were obese. Another study of military personnel found no correlation of disease severity with either age or body mass index. The authors concluded that obstructive sleep apnea “should be considered in symptomatic patients regardless of age or BMI. [SOURCE: Christopher J. Lettieri, et al, “Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Are We Missing an At-Risk Population, Chest, October, 2005; Ammar Ghanem and syed Mahmood, “Is Obstructive Sleep apnea in Non-Obese Patients a Less Serious Disease than in Obese Patients?” Chest, October, 2005]

Snorers–Wake Up to the Danger
                                                                                               

Does your bed partner wake you up frequently to tell you you’re snoring so loud she can’t sleep? Have you found yourself nodding off while your boss is making an important presentation? Do you feel tired, even when you wake up from a full night’s sleep?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you could be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that causes a person to stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer numerous times every night. It’s estimated that 90 percent of Americans with sleep apnea don’t know they have it nor that it increases their risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other serious illnesses.
[SOURCE: Tips for Vibrant Health and Beauty at Every Age,” Saturday Evening Post, January-February, 2005]

Snoring: It’s All in the Family
                                                                                               

A study of about 700 one-year-old children found that snoring apparently has a family connection. A child is three times more likely to snore if he or she has parents who snore. Snoring was also more common among African American children and children who tested positive for allergies. About 15 percent of the children snored at least three times a week, and those who did had an increased risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
[SOURCE: M. Kaira,, Chest, April, 2006; Jennifer Warner, WebMD Health News, April 10, 2006]

Tips for Dealing with Snoring
                                                                                                   

If you or your bed partner is spending a good part of each night snoring, here are some things to try:
                                                                   •    Maintain weight, fitness and muscle tone through regular exercise. To keep your throat muscles toned, try singing.
                                

•    Treat nasal congestion and allergies.
                                                                       

•    Avoid alcohol and heavy meals or snacks just before bedtime. Also avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antihistamines.
                                                          

•    Sleep on your side rather than your back and raise the head of your bed four inches.


[SOURCE: American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, “Snoring: insight into sleep disorders and sleep apnea.”]