The Snoring Dilemma: Treatment Options in Toronto
Monisha Nundy, MD, HBSc. CCRP
After years and years of searching you finally found them, the person of your dreams. The perfect end to your fairytale and they’re everything you ever hoped for. There is only one catch, THEY SNORE. Loud, rumbling, incessant, it’s as if your sweetheart transforms into a freight train at night. And you are entirely helpless to do anything, so either you lie there hoping that by some miracle you’ll pass out or you begin to contemplate the easiest way to throw your honey from the balcony. Well there is hope! You can treat snoring by yourself, or visit couple of places in Toronto which will help you with this.
It’s important to remember that before you begin the search for anti-snoring technique or product, you bring to your snoring partner to a family doctor to rule out any potential medical cause or condition which is perpetuating the snoring. Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder where the snorer stops breathing for short episodes throughout the night. Sleep apnea has been associated with conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and can lead to extreme daytime fatigue, which can lead to impaired immune function, but can have a detrimental effect on a person’s work and ability to function daily tasks.
What causes snoring?
Snoring is a result of vibrating tissue in the nose and throat. Disruptive airflow passes through narrow air passage. Your sleeping position, different use of medicines and consumption of alcohol can affect the likehood of snoring.
Snoring is a very common symptom. About 9 million Canadians sore. According to surveys, about 25% of adults snore regularly and the majority of them are male.
Ways to treat snoring
Change position
Some people snore due to the position in which they sleep. If you are on your back, gravity causes the tongue and soft tissue at the back of your throat and block your airway. Sleeping on your side can prevent this from occurring.
Lose weight
If you are moderately overweight, this may be contributing to your snoring issue. An excess of weight around the neck and chest can put additional pressure on your airway and chest muscles, resulting in compressed airflow. A combination of healthy eating and exercise can help reduce your weight and which can improve your snoring condition.
Nasal strips
Products, such as Breathe Right, actually provide significant relief for some snorers by helping to open nasal passages. If you suffer from nasal congestion then this may be the cause of your snoring and this might be an ideal therapy for you.
Mandibular Devices
These include products like the SnoreMate or R.I.P. Snore, mouthpiece devices worn at night which reduce snoring by modifying the position of the jaw and palate.
Some resources to help you find snoring devices in Greater Toronto Area:
CPAP Clinic
The Snore Shop
Snoring Mouthpiece
Snoring laser treatment
A new therapy to treat snoring is using a laser. The CO2 laser erodes down the uvula and reshapes the surrounding tissue. It is a short treatment that takes about 15min.
Some clinics that offer this treatment in Toronto are:
Monisha Nundy, MD, HBSc. CCRP
November 02, 2015
