Last updated on July 7th, 2023 at 01:15 pm
It is believed that almost two thirds of adults say that their partners snore. Therefore, it is to no surprise that we are constantly trying to find new cures. We aim to get that better night’s sleep and to control our partners snoring. Should you use CPAP, Mandibular Advancements, or try this new taping method to treat snoring? Find out below!
There was an interesting read by Mail Online today about a new cure being tested in the U.S. to stop people from snoring.
So you may be wondering, what is this new method to stop our partners from snoring? It may sound completely insane to do what you are going to hear, but it may just work.
Research found that taping our partners mouth shut while they sleep, may just offer a new way to tackle their snoring!
A device is currently being trialled in a U.S. study involving 30 patients. The device sticks to the outside of the patients mouth. This stops their mouth opening during sleep. Scientists suggest that this approach forces people to breathe through their noses. They also believe that this may help people with sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea is where tissues in your throat collapse repeatedly during the night, causing a blockage to your airways. This can cause pauses to your breathing for up to ten seconds at a time.
So you may be wondering, what is the theory behind this bizarre but simple method?
The theory behind this method, is that breathing through the mouth more is one of the main causes of apnoea events and pauses in breathing, as well as snoring. These symptoms occur when air squeezes through restricted airways, at the back of your throat. When you sleep with you mouth open, the incoming air is cold. Air hits the back of your throat at high speed. The combination can cause the soft tissue at the back of your throat to vibrate and constrict. This causes the unpleasant, snoring sound.
Breathing through our nose allows the air to warm up first through the nasal passageway. When the air comes into contact with the back of the throat, it is not as disruptive. This means that it does not cause the effects that contribute to apnoea’s occurring or snoring.
Scientists believe that this new treatment will be able to solve these issues by encouraging patients to breathe through their noses to overcome this problem.
Sleep apnoea affects around one in five adults in Britain. Studies suggest that 60 per cent of over-65s suffer from sleep apnoea. Almost anyone can suffer from sleep apnoea, which might be the reason why 80% of sufferers remain undiagnosed. A common misconception to avoid is that sleep apnoea affects mainly middle aged, obese men, who suffer from snoring. This is not the case, as studies show that almost anyone, even a young child can suffer from OSA.
Sleep apnoea deprives the body of oxygen. In the long term, this can cause serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attacks and obesity.
Risk factors that contribute to sleep apnoea include carrying excess body weight, having a large neck, smoking, taking sedatives including sleeping pills, enlarged tonsils, a family history of OSA or alcohol consumption.
The standard treatment for sleep apnoea is to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP Therapy). CPAP consists of a face mask, a CPAP machine and tubing connecting the two together. The patient wears the face mask whilst sleeping, which allows pressurised air from their CPAP machine to travel through their airways. This allows your airways to remain open during the night, preventing the soft tissue of the throat collapsing and the airway closing.
But will taping your partner’s mouth become a safe and legalised treatment?
Who knows, but let us just say that CPAP therapy sounds like a piece of cake compared to taping your mouth shut at night! CPAP therapy is easy to use, once you adjust to it. CPAP is the most convenient, and comfortable option to treat sleep apnoea. If you believe that you might be at risk of sleep apnoea, you should take a Sleep Study to find out the severity of your condition. You will also be required to complete a full medical questionnaire, to see whether CPAP therapy could help treat your condition. I wouldn’t suggest taping your partner’s mouth just yet!
CPAP therapy is the most recommended treatment for those who have confirmed their diagnosis of OSA. To obtain a CPAP machine, you need to first conduct a sleep study.
A sleep study can either be taken through the NHS- for free, but the process can take up to several months, or privately- with a cost, but speeds up the process dramatically!
You can take a confidential, at-home sleep study which will provide you with accurate and fast results, normally within 10-14 days. There are two types of tests, the Finger Pulse or Multi-Channel Sleep Study so it is worth reading about both options to consider which results you would prefer. For more information, click here.