Snoring. Far too many of us suffer from that unfortunate affliction. It’s not only unpleasant for us but for anyone else who may share the same room with a person who snores, the effect is even more unpleasant.
We’ve all tried the many “promised” cures for snoring. There are many and each day it seems another so-called doctor comes up with a new remedy — for a price and just pay for shipping and handling (!).
Many, however, continue to snore. Some snore so loudly they can be heard in other rooms. It has been said the outlaw Billy the Kid shot a man whose snoring kept the entire bunkhouse awake, and in misery.
So, does a humidifier help to reduce snoring? The object of this article is to discuss one cure that many believe can really help. That is the humidifier.
Basically, a humidifier is a (usually) small unit that when plugged into an electrical outlet, produces more moisture in a room — or even an entire structure, depending on the size of the appliance.
Humidifiers are more popular in areas that are dry most of the year. Exposure to low humidity for extended periods of time may affect our health in that our noses and throat remain constantly dry and irritated.
Low humidity can even affect our furniture as well as other household properties.
A humidifier, however, has its negative side to consider. When a humidifier is overused, it can incorporate develop mold as well as other undesirable problems.
Today, there are many humidifiers available that have specifically designed for the person who snores. The manufacturers claim that humidifiers can help snoring for those who snore because of breathing dry air all night long. They further claim that a considerable amount of irritable throat and congestion may be eliminated.
Their theory is that our dry air passages will have thicker mucus, creating the propensity to snore.
Can You Benefit from a Humidifier?
Overall, it’s unlikely that a humidifier alone will offer a complete cure for this affliction.
Used in conjunction with other possible techniques, the humidifier can be of great help, especially when the problem comes from having allergies.
Colds may cause a problem but this is normally temporary.
Sleeping with an Open Mouth
This is probably the most prevalent cause of snoring. Many of us, when we lie supine on the bed at night, will allow the lower jaw to drop leaving us with an open mouth. This creates the ideal condition for snoring because sleeping with the open mouth quickly dries out the membranes of our throats and cause us to snore.
Sleeping on one side (facing away from a partner), may help, but not always.
Humidifiers may Help
Humidifiers have many uses and may be helpful to anyone living in very dry climates, or for those who have too much dry air due to the air conditioning.
Pregnancy may cause snoring but this is usually only a temporary ailment.
For those of us who suffer from any sort of chronic problems with our sinus, the question remains: can a humidifier help me with my snoring?
Snoring at night is only one aspect of this debilitating condition. It can mean not getting the proper sleep a person needs each night. This, of course, applies to those who have to endure snoring that wakes them or keeps them awake.
This lack of proper rest can trail us to the workplace where we may find it difficult to wake up and concentrate properly on our work, or we may have accidents and generally, simply don’t feel quite right.
Underlying Causes for Snoring
First, trying to “cure” or stop our snoring we normally make an attempt to stop it through remedies either advertised or recommended by friends. One of the remedies often suggested is the use of a humidifier? But will this remedy really help?
Snoring in itself is not really the problem. Snoring is a symptom.
What causes snoring?
There are many possible underlying reasons for snoring. One of the more common as well as more serious problems is sleep apnea. For those of us who suffer (often unknowingly) from sleep apnea, it is important to know at this time just what sleep apnea means to us.
Sleep Apnea
Many of us stop breathing at night. That, if prolonged, could, of course, be fatal. However, we only stop for a moment and then our body quickly compensates by jerking us back into reality by making us breathe again. In some cases, this can occur a number of times in one night. Some suffer literally hundreds of times in one night alone.
This, of course, can mean some serious health problems. Not all people who snore find themselves in such dire circumstances.
Some of the symptoms mentioned earlier will be the culprits. Sometimes obesity can have an effect on our snoring as well as the structure of our mouths.
Sleeping on our backs too, as mentioned. Raising the head a little with more pillows may help too. And it is universally agreed that drinking alcohol before bedtime is not conducive to good sleep — Perhaps surprisingly, drinking causes the muscles of the throat to relax creating a perfect invitation to the snoring mechanism.
Final Verdict. Can a Humidifier Help with Snoring?
Probably for quick relief, the humidifier probably isn’t going to show any immediate and satisfactory results.
In the long run, many persons do find humidifiers helpful. However, it should be noted that all humidifiers are not the same. As you doubtless know, wherever water lies in a container, there can be mold and mildew. These can only denigrate snoring problems.
Most experienced users say that a warm mist humidifier is preferable to a cool-mist humidifier because the latter is more prone to gathering mold. Experts are quick to warn that where children and/or pets are in the home, a warm mist humidifier is definitely to be recommended.
A recent article in The Huffington Post claims that a warm air humidifier is certainly worth a try and it can’t hurt. When the condition seems serious, it’s good to consult a doctor. The one sure cure (so far) is the CPAP, but that means wearing a mask that makes you look like a wannabe astronaut.
