People in all regions of the world snore. An estimated one billion people around the world snore due to an airway or nasal blockage. Snoring is not a phenomenon that has intent behind it, even though in the middle of the night it may seem as if a sleeping partner is snoring loudly on purpose. Actually, snoring is the body’s way of saying it’s having a harder time getting air into your lungs. This can be caused by any number of things: sleeping medications, obesity, alcohol, and individual anatomy are only a few of the factors that increase snoring. But snoring can’t be eliminated without learning what is triggering it in the first place. But for those who sleep in the same room as a snorer, more immediate help is important, and earplugs for snoring are often one of the first solutions tried.
Mechanically speaking, snoring happens because of vibrations of the soft palate tissues in the back of the mouth, and it usually happens when the nose is blocked for some reason. It is also more likely when people sleep on their backs. Percentage-wise, men snore more than women. By their early 30s, 20% of men snore, and 5% of women do. By age 60, those percentages increase to 60% of men and 40% of women.
Men snore more
Why the significant difference between men and women? There are several reasons. A person’s neck circumference has a lot to do with whether they snore. Necks greater than 17 inches around make snoring more likely, as do larger uvulas, which are characteristic of men. Men are more likely to snore through both their noses and their mouths. In women, being shorter and being heavier makes snoring more likely, and women who snore tend to snore through their noses.
Perhaps due to embarrassment, women are more likely to seek treatment for snoring. Some 80% of men who snore don’t believe they have a problem, and many of them dismiss their sleeping partner’s complaints and chalk it up to the partner being a light sleeper.
Only about 6% of children snore, and many of them snore because of problems with swollen tonsils or adenoids.
Take snoring seriously
In recent years, more people have been pushing for their physicians to take snoring seriously. Even dentists who outfit their patients with anti-snoring dental appliances do not routinely go into the reasons for and the risks of heavy snoring. For example, people who snore have a four times greater risk of stroke than those who don’t. High blood pressure and heart disease are also more likely to occur in snorers. But the most significant form of snoring problem is sleep apnea.
One of the immediate effects of sleep apnea is the sleep disruption and the effect on a person’s basic functioning. One survey found that 70% of people with sleep apnea reported having been in at least one automobile accident. Some studies indicate that sleep disorders like sleep apnea cause more accidents than drunk driving. Sleep apnea can also be fatal, if the snorer stops breathing long enough. The 2004 death of professional American football player Reggie White was attributed to untreated sleep apnea. The Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research and Education Foundation was founded to bring attention to the dangers of sleep apnea.
While snoring – particularly heavy and chronic snoring – needs medical attention to treat the root of the problem, there is the more immediate problem of sleeping partners of snorers: getting a decent night’s sleep. Often one of the first potential solutions partners of snorers try is earplugs. Earplugs for snoring come in numerous forms, from extremely simple to high tech. Often a lot of trial and error are involved in finding the best earplugs for snoring. It’s no trivial matter, either. According to The American Medical Association, snoring can be up to 69 decibels in loudness. To facilitate comparison, a pneumatic drill registers at 70 to 90 decibels. Following are some of the many types of available earplugs for snoring.
Types of earplugs
Ohropax Classic Wax and Cotton earplugs have been in use since 1907. They are made of cotton wool soaked in a mixture of paraffin wax and petroleum jelly. They are moldable and do not give the wearer a sense of pressure in the ears. They come in a peach color to blend in with the complexions of light skinned people.
Quies Boules Classic ear plugs for sleeping are made in France of waxes and cotton and block 27 dB of noise. They soften as your body heat warms them for maximum comfort.
Flents brand Quiet!Please PVC foam ear plugs for sleeping are made for industrial use and are widely used in industrial applications, but are available at drugstores.
Hearos Sleep Pretty in Pink ear plugs for sleeping are designed for women’s smaller ear canals. The “super soft” foam and noise reduction of 32 dB make them well suited for women needing earplugs for snoring partners.
ZonkOut Premium Foam Ear Plugs reduce noise by 32 dB and are touted as being extremely soft and comfortable.
But earplugs for snoring aren’t limited to wax, cotton, and foam earplugs. There are also custom molded and high tech devices that can be worn in the ears to block sound and generate safe levels of “white noise” to further block snoring sounds.
Perfect-Fit Custom Sleep Plugs are made with a thin shell at the outer ear, and a deep plug that reaches a safe, deep distance into the ear canal for maximum noise reduction. Ear plugs like these require impressions of the customer’s ear. The impression kit is sent first, and then the plugs are made from the impressions. They’re designed to be comfortable and to provide a superior acoustic seal. They cost around US$125.
High tech earplugs
Perhaps the highest tech earplugs for snoring are the SnoreMasker Pro Deluxe In-Ear White Noise Machine. They come with two two SnoreMasker Pro ear pieces with trial packs of foam snap tips in two sizes, batteries, battery handling tool, storage case, and user’s manual. They reduce the volume heard by 20 to 25 dB and in addition produce a white noise sound that masks remaining noise. They are purported to give near-total isolation from sound up to 70 dB, which is similar to the decibel level of a loud alarm clock. Depending on the retailer, they cost from $400 to $600.
Snoring is not just a funny problem that some people have. Loud snoring can disrupt the sleep of anyone sleeping in the same room as a snorer. Loud snoring can awaken even deep sleepers and make it difficult or impossible for them to go back to sleep. Chronic, heavy snoring can indicate long term health problems, either already present, or risked. Not only does the heavy snorer not get as restful a night’s sleep as possible, snoring is associated with health problems like obesity, lack of fitness, increased risk of heart disease and increased risk of stroke. A complication of snoring called sleep apnea can be dangerous and even fatal if untreated.
Fortunately, the medical community is beginning to take snoring seriously as a health problem. Solutions to snoring include weight loss, exercise, various dental devices, continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines, surgery, and even vocal training. It is important that anyone with chronic heavy snoring seek medical help because of the possible implications of untreated snoring. It is also important that sleeping partners of chronic snorers find solutions that allow them to get a good night’s rest as well. Sleep deprivation is a leading cause of accidents and lack of productivity at school, work, or home.
One solution that many people try is earplugs for snoring. For sleeping partners whose snoring loudness is moderate, simple foam earplugs that are available at pharmacies and drug stores may work just fine, and they are very inexpensive. To block louder noises may require custom-fitted ear plugs for sleeping, and these are also available without a prescription. For those who need the maximum sound blockage, ear plugs that incorporate a white noise machine are available, though they can be very expensive.