OTC Products to Stop Snoring

Using OTC products to stop snoring can improve sleep and help protect against several potentially serious health conditions.

Using a product to stop snoring can ease symptoms and improve sleep.

Snoring occurs when the airways narrow during sleep, either due to structural abnormalities in the mouth, jaw, or throat, or because of poor sleep posture or nasal congestion. When the airways narrow, breathing becomes forced. This causes the soft tissues in the throat to vibrate and produce snoring sounds.

Identifying the cause of your snoring is an essential part of developing a treatment plan. While some causes of snoring are out of our control, such as heredity, age, and gender, other risk factors are preventable.

Untreated allergies, asthma, nasal polyps, and sinus infections can all cause or worsen snoring. Effective treatment of these conditions generally reduces the frequency and intensity of snoring episodes. Enlarged adenoids or tonsils are common causes of snoring in children.

Being overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol before bedtime, and back sleeping are other possible causes of snoring that are treatable and preventable.

Untreated snoring can significantly disrupt sleep, leading to poor job performance, irritability, depression, anxiety, and strained relationships. Prolonged sleep deprivation may also contribute to cardiovascular problems, obesity, and diabetes.

Snoring caused by obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and attention deficit disorder.

For mild or infrequent snoring, over-the-counter products may be effective at controlling symptoms. OTC anti-snoring aids are affordable, widely available, and easy to use.

• Nasal strips work by opening up the nasal passages to enhance breathing and relieve snoring. They are available at most grocery stores and pharmacies.

• Special pillows are available that prevent back sleeping, which helps keeps the airways open and reduces snoring.

• Nasal decongestants are effective at preventing snoring caused by blocked sinuses or allergies. The Mayo Clinic cautions against using decongestants for more than a few days in row, as prolonged use can worsen congestion.

• Playing the didgeridoo may help strengthen and train the upper airway muscles. A didgeridoo is a type of musical instrument.

Not all OTC products to stop snoring are effective at controlling symptoms. Ask your doctor for advice or recommendations before making a purchase.

Prescription devices may be necessary when snoring is severe, or when OTC products to stop snoring fail to relieve symptoms.

• Prescription steroid nasal sprays work similarly to OTC decongestants and help relieve congestion and inflammation in the nasal passages.

• Dental appliances help improve snoring caused by mouth or jaw abnormalities. Only a dentist can design and fit a dental appliance, and use of these anti-snoring aids requires periodic evaluation to ensure proper fit.

• CPAP machines are prescription devices that blow pressurized air through a hose and mask to hold open the airways. CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, is an effective treatment for both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Persistent snoring requires a medical evaluation and diagnosis. Sometimes, snoring is a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition.

In severe cases, surgery is necessary to alleviate snoring and improve sleep. Speak with your doctor about the benefits and risks of undergoing surgical treatment for your snoring.

Fortunately, using prescription or OTC products to stop snoring is effective for most of the estimated 90 million Americans who snore.

• Sleep Requirements by Age
• Sleep Apnea Full Face Masks
• Foods Containing L-Tryptophan
• Why Is Sleep Important

• Pure Sleep
• Melatonin Forums
• How to Put Someone to Sleep
• Stop Snoring Mouthpiece
• How Long Can You Live Without Sleep