mouth breathers and loud snoring?

Question

my boyfriend breathes through his mouth and sometimes even snores when hes awake. he snores extremely loud when he actually is sleeping. is there anything we can do? what things work the best? it really drives me crazy

Answer 1

Does your boyfriend have allergies? I do and am embarrassed by the mouth breathing and snoring. I live in California and our state government has placed restrictions on the OTC medication that helps me. So when I run out my wife goes through hell. (Thanks Arnold).

The guy at our local WalMart pharmacy came up with a spray (it doesn't taste too bad, either) that completely knocks out my snoring, now if I can just get the government to release it's chokehold on the daytime stuff, I'll be set.

Try this brand....."Breathe Right Snore Relief Throat Spray"... it works but it ain't cheap. (Thus the trip to WalMart).

Good luck and be patient.

Answer 2

Ahhh I have the same problem, and no one ever wants to room with me when we go on trips!

It depends what the problem is. If he is breathing through his mouth, it could be a deviated septum (ask him if he's ever hurt his nose) or allergies.
A deviated septum requires surgery, but with allergies he could try some strips that go on the nose and open up the nostrils a little bit wider to help him breathe, or a nasal spray.

Answer 3

see his family physician who can evaluate him closer. they can order further tests...evaluate his throat size, thyroids(if enlarged can cause narrowing airways), tonsils (again, can narrow airways), and ,yes, order sleep studies. there are a number of things that may cause the snoring, concerning is the daytime snoring. get this checked out soon.

Answer 4

My hubby does the same thing. He wakes me several times a night, We tried the nose strips.... no luck.... I always make him turn to his side and it subsides until he is on his back again. When he has been drinking it is worse. I hope you find something that works Good Luck.

Answer 5

He may need to have sleep study done. I was the same way. I now sleep with a cpap. It helps a lot.

Answer 6

Is he overweight? How old is he?
He could have sleep apnea. He needs to see a doctor.

Answer 7

For many people who snore nightly, a simple change in housekeeping practices may lessen, or even completely, stop snoring. While snoring is not an illness it is can be a symptom of an adverse health condition. Take caution, as it is very critical to remember that snoring, or an increase or intensity in snoring, should be checked out by a medical professional. Due to a possible lack of oxygen to the brain, snoring can be a sign of a more serious medical condition leading to high blood pressure and increasing the risk of a stroke or heart attack. Clinical studies encompassing all ages have concluded that approximately 40% of the entire U.S. population are regular or chronic snorers.

People snore for many different reasons, but basically people snore due to a restricted air flow through an obstructed airway. Unlike daytime hours, constantly produced secretions in our lungs, bronchi, nasal cavity and sinuses tend to accumulate in the back of our throat at night while we’re lying in a horizontal position. Congestion and swelling occurs as the irritating secretions begin to surround the soft tissue in our throats and airways which then partially obstructs the airflow. The interrupted airflow vibrates the soft tissues in the back of the throat and produces the snoring sounds.

Some of the more common causes of obstructive airways may include:

1). Sleep Apnea, irregular breathing and a serious sleep disorder prompted by the lack of oxygen

2). Obesity, which tends to narrow the airway

3). Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, (most notably in children)

4). Alcohol use, which relaxes the tongue or muscles in the throat, resulting in airway blockage

5). Deviated septum, which is a crooked tissue and cartilage between the two nostrils

6). Aging, as one grows older the likelihood of snoring increases

7). Stuffy nasal passages, due to colds or a sinus infections

8). Allergenic Rhinitis, this can be either seasonal (temporary) or perennial (all year long)

Snoring can be symptomatic of other health conditions, even an allergic reaction to poor indoor air quality and the indoor allergens which can promote allergenic rhinitis and sinus infections. It is possible to reduce indoor allergens and thereby reduce problems associated with snoring through knowledge and by improving housekeeping practices.

What Exactly is Allergenic Rhinitis and What Cause the Snoring?

It’s estimated that 39% of the U.S. population suffers from allergenic rhinitis which, like asthma, is an ever increasing, prevalent and common health problem. The percentage of sufferers is likely to be even higher as many sufferers do not even seek proper medical relief. In most cases allergenic rhinitis is a non-life threatening condition but there is still a substantial impact on the public health and a $2 billion cost to the economy.

This happens when the membranes lining our throat and nose become irritated and create an obstruction in the airway. More often than not, allergenic rhinitis is triggered by an allergic reaction to an inhaled substance. The two types of allergenic rhinitis are seasonal (temporary) and perennial (year long). Seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) occurring more often in the spring and summer, is usually due to pollen from trees, grass and other plants, when the pollen counts skyrocket in numbers. Perennial allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction typically known to be caused by mold spores, animal fur, pet dander, feathers, dust mites, house dust and the allergens we inadvertently transport indoors from upon our hair, hats, overcoats, and clothing.

Some symptoms of allergic rhinitis:

1). Snoring

2). Congested or runny nasal cavity

3). Itchy, irritated nose

4). Red, watery, and/or itchy eyes

5). Sinus headaches

Change Housekeeping Practices to Decrease Allergens

The nastiest place in our homes is often in our bedrooms…and in particular our beds, where we sleep one-third of our lives. Because our bedrooms are generally unseen by guests, typically less time is spent on cleaning bedrooms as opposed to cleaning our front rooms or living areas. Our bedrooms become a dumping ground for allergens. After a day outside, at work, in a classroom, or away from home, the bedroom is the first place we go to change clothing. Our clothing attracts and collects a number of allergens such as pollen, dust, animal hairs, molds, and pet dander. In addition, the ideal micro-habitat provided within our unhygienic mattresses, pillows, and our bedding, lend to a perfect breeding ground for micro-organisms that include dust mites, mold, mildew, spores, pollen, bacteria and viruses.

Nowadays, utilizing a professional mattress cleaning service, a service that not only cleans your mattresses but also cleans all of the “soft furnishings” in your home, is extremely effective and very cost efficient. Recent technological advances have resulted in producing the specialized equipment required to reduce or eliminate indoor allergens. Technicians’ using HEPA-rated vacuums (not just HEPA-rated filters) and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) light wands can also educate homeowners with tips to continually reduce indoor allergens and avoid the triggers that cause allergenic rhinitis as well as asthma and other illnesses. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) has suggested that 50 % of ALL ILLNESSES are caused by, or aggravated by, poor indoor air quality. The U.S. EPA states that “dust” is worst offender amongst indoor pollutants.

House dust contains a mixture of approximately 28 allergenic components. Typically, dust mite allergens (DMA’s) account for the majority of the composition of dust, more than any other single particulate. These allergens are very light-weight and easily become airborne for up to two hours at a time before settling throughout the entire house. This fact negates the effectiveness of costly mattress and pillow enclosures as the dust and allergens simply continue to float about the indoor air and accumulate on your bedding.

Hire professional mattress cleaning technicians to remove the allergen source(s) at the point of origin. Integrate into your housekeeping practices, the tips offered by the mattress cleaning technicians for reducing allergens. Remove dust “collectors” in your home and using proper HEPA-rated vacuums to clean carpets no less than weekly. These housekeeping practices can lessen your exposure to indoor allergens, thereby reducing possibilities of suffering from allergenic rhinitis, asthma, respiratory and skin diseases and increase your quality of health.

There are basically 3 ways to cope with allergens

1). Avoidance

2). Pharmacotherapy

3). Immunotherapy

The very best and most cost effective way to cope with indoor allergens is through avoidance and removing the source. Through the avoidance of indoor allergens, allergic reactions should subside and snoring caused by allergens, may disappear forever. If snoring persists after you have done all possible to remove the indoor allergens, see a physician and be prepared to furnish allergy, family, and past medical history. Also, be prepared for a skin prick allergy test, the purchase of costly medications, or to endure immunotherapy. Sometimes, either one of these will work, sometimes not.

Keeping snoring in check, allows everyone to breathe easier and sleep better. Avoiding allergens that cause snoring will improve the quality of health and reduce risks of future medical conditions, some of which can be quite serious.