Socially Correct Solutions

Socially Incorrect Snorers are more a menace to others than themselves. 

It is perfectly possible to make a lot of noise from breathing whilst asleep, but at the same time have 'good quality' breathing. Good quality breathing means that adequate amounts of air reach the lungs with each breath, allowing you all the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

However, the flow of air through the upper airway is noisy, and disturbs everyone around you. 

• You may find that friends start canceling trips out of town, or insisting on their own rooms.

• And the impact on your significant relationships could be much more serious.  Marriages have been destroyed by snoring. A 2005 survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that more than 30 percent of respondents with a snoring or easily awakened partner feel it has hurt their relationship.

• Some sleep specialists feel any type of snoring should be addressed -- your body is obviously exerting more energy to breathe that it should, and that can't be good for you.

Here are some of the remedies that the Socially Incorrect Snorer should try first:

• Lifestyle changes

• Throat sprays

• Homeopathic remedies

• Breathing strips

• Sleep posture correction

The next step after that should be a dental device -- a mouthpiece -- either fitted by your dentist, or by yourself.

• Mouthpieces  (check out our review of this snoring remedy

If none of these work, you need to consider something a bit more drastic (and expensive):

• The Pillar System

• Snoreplasty

• Somnoplasty or coblation

• Surgery

As for your sleeping partner, here are a couple of lifelines that could save your relationship:

• Ear plugs

• Support groups