Snoring is a problem in every culture in the world. Experts estimate that a billion people all over the world snore due to nasal blockage or a partial airway obstruction. Snoring isn’t intentional, although sleeping partners of snorers sometimes feel as if they are being singled out. Earplugs for snoring are a common way for sleeping partners of snorers to cope. The sleep deprivation caused by snoring – for both the snorer and others trying to sleep – can be a serious problem. In fact, some severe snoring is associated with a condition called sleep apnea, which can be fatal. American professional football player Reggie White died of sleep apnea in 2004.
Causes of snoring
Snoring is the body’s way of announcing that it is having a difficult time getting air to the lungs. The causes of snoring are many: some sleeping pills, drinking alcohol before bed, obesity, and individual quirks of anatomy are just a few of the conditions under which snoring can occur. Snoring is notoriously hard to stop because of its multiple causes. To stop snoring, it is necessary to isolate the factor or factors which are causing it and treat those causes. The process can be frustrating for those who sleep in the same room (or even the next room) as the snorer, and many of these people cope by wearing earplugs. Earplugs for snoring are often the very first “solution” to the sleep problems caused by snoring.
The mechanics of snoring are fairly simple. The soft palate tissues in the back of the mouth vibrate, causing the sound when the snorer inhales. It is more likely to happen when the nose is blocked. Sometimes even young children snore when they have a cold or stuffy nose. Statistically, only about 6% of children snore, and it is almost always due to a cold, or to swollen tonsils or adenoids. People who sleep on their backs snore more because of the position of the relaxed soft tissues in the mouth. Men snore more than women do, and snoring tends to increase with age (often as weight increases). By age 60, some 60% of men and 40% of women snore.
Men snore more than women
One reason that men snore more than women do is that their neck circumference is larger. Anyone with a neck measurement of 17 inches or more is more likely to snore. People with larger uvulas (the tissue that hangs down in the back of the mouth) are more likely to snore, and men typically have larger uvulas than women. In women, short stature and being overweight make snoring more likely. Women tend to snore through their noses rather than through their mouths.
Women are, however, more likely to try to stop snoring, perhaps because they find it embarrassing. Men have a harder time accepting that they snore. Nearly 8 out of 10 men who snore don’t believe they have a problem, and many of them blame their partner’s sleep deprivation on factors like being a light sleeper. Sometimes earplugs for snoring help. They are inexpensive enough that they are definitely worth trying.
Fortunately, in recent years, people have come to realize that snoring is more than just a joke, and physicians take snoring more seriously than they used to. Sometimes dentists treat snoring with specially designed mouth appliances. The risks of snoring are real: people who snore have a greater risk for stroke than non-snorers. They are also far more likely to have coronary artery disease and high blood pressure, and this is particularly true among people with sleep apnea.
The effects of snoring take place over the short term and the long term. Sleep disruption affects a snorer’s daytime functioning. One study discovered that 70% of people with sleep apnea reported being in a car accident due to daytime sleepiness. There is evidence that sleep disorders cause as many accidents as drunk driving. And sleep apnea itself is dangerous. If a person with sleep apnea stops breathing long enough, he or she can die from it.
Snoring partner
Whenever a snorer is able to stop snoring, the benefits extend to the sleeping partner too. But the partner may have to cope with snoring for a long time before the snorer accepts that there is a problem and gets treatment for it. In the meantime, partners of snorers often turn to earplugs for snoring relief. It may be their only hope for a good night’s sleep. Earplugs for snoring run the gamut, from the most simple, basic designs to high tech ear devices with built in white noise generators. They range in price from less than a dollar to more than $100. Finding the best earplugs for snoring often requires a period of trial and error. And simply putting cotton in their ears is not sufficient. Snoring can reach 69 decibels in loudness, which is almost as loud as a pneumatic drill.
Types of Earplugs for Snoring
The Quiet!Please PVC foam earplugs for snoring are made by Flents, and are used widely in industrial settings. They are also available at many drug stores and discount stores and cost less than $5 for a container of several pairs.
The Pretty in Pink earplugs for snoring made by Hearos are designed to fit women’s smaller ear canals. They are made of what is described as “super soft” foam, and claim to reduce noise by 32 decibels.
Wax and cotton earplugs for snoring are made by a French company called Quies Boules. They are made from a cotton and wax blend, and they soften with contact with body heat, so that they can conform to fit the ear canal comfortably. They are said to reduce noise by 27 decibels.
Another brand of wax and cotton earplugs are made by Ohropax. Ohropax Classic Wax and Cotton earplugs for snoring have been around for more than 100 years. Made from cotton wool soaked in a mixture of petroleum jelly and paraffin wax, they conform to the user’s ear canals without causing a sense of pressure in the ears.
ZonkOut Premium earplugs for snoring reduce noise by 32 decibels and are advertised as being extremely comfortable and soft.
But these low-tech earplugs for snoring aren’t the whole story. There are also custom-made earplugs, and high tech ear appliances that not only block sound, but also generate low levels of white noise to further counteract the sound of snoring.
The SnoreMasker Pro Deluxe In-Ear White Noise Machine may be the ultimate in high-tech earplugs for snoring. They come with removable foam tips in different sizes so that the user can get a good fit, and also have batteries, a battery handling tool, and a storage case. In addition to reducing noise by up to 25 decibels, they also produce white noise that further masks the sounds of snoring. Wearers report near-total sound isolation from sounds up to 70 decibels, which is about the same loudness as a loud alarm clock. They aren’t cheap however: depending on the retailer, these high tech earplugs for snoring can cost up to $600.
While they don’t have white noise generators, Perfect-Fit Custom Sleep Plugs have a thin shell to block the outer ear, and a deeper plug that reaches into the ear canal for maximum noise blockage. These earplugs for snoring require a custom mold to be made of the wearer’s ear. First, the customer orders the impression kit, then returns the impressions and in return receives custom earplugs made from them. If well fitted, they provide an excellent seal against noise. These earplugs for snoring cost just over $100.
Snoring is not a joke
Snoring may be the butt of many jokes, but it is definitely not funny trying to sleep with a loud snorer. Loud snoring harms the snorer, too, by causing poor sleep quality, which leads to daytime sleepiness and sub-optimal performance during the day. Long-term heavy snoring can lead to serious health problems, or exacerbate existing health problems. Heavy snoring increases a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke, and if the snoring involves sleep apnea, it can cause death. The causes of loud snoring are many: excess weight, large uvula, swollen adenoids, or excessive soft tissues in the mouth.
While earplugs for snoring provide a respite for people, they of course do nothing to help the snorer to stop snoring. Snorers are often advised to lose excess weight and exercise, and often this is enough to stop snoring. However, sometimes dental devices, nighttime breathing machines called CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machines, vocal training, and even surgery may be necessary. Not only will medical treatment of chronic snoring benefit the snorer, but the rest of the household, and can result in a great reduction in household stress. Sleep deprivation or poor quality of sleep are big risk factors for lack of productivity and accidents involving cars and machinery.
Earplugs for snoring should be a temporary measure, because it is important to find out the root cause of the snoring and deal with it. Simple foam earplugs from the drugstore often work quite well, and they don’t cost much. Sometimes custom-fitted earplugs for snoring and in-the-ear white noise machines are necessary, and these options are more expensive. While earplugs for snoring definitely have their place in the snorer’s household, they are no substitute for getting at the root of the problem and helping the snorer stop snoring.
Snoring is a problem in every part of the world. While occasional snoring due to a respiratory infection isn’t dangerous, chronic, heavy snoring can be dangerous. In many cases, the snorer must seek treatment regardless of embarrassment because of the significant effect heavy snoring can have on members of a household. The increase in overall health, and the reduction of stress among family members are well worth the effort in helping a snorer learn what is causing it, and helping him or her stop snoring altogether.