How do I stop snoring?
Almost everyone has encountered someone who snores. And for years, loud and chronic snorers have been teased and even humiliated by their bedmates. But thanks to advances in technology, including sleep studies, physicians and sleep specialists have discovered that chronic snoring is no laughing matter. It can be a symptom of a serious underlying health issue, such as sleep apnea.
How can NYC SleepWell help me stop snoring?
At NYC SleepWell, our Board Certified doctors and sleep specialists have years of experience treating snoring and sleep apnea. Following are the steps we recommend for those who are seeking help to stop snoring:
- Schedule an appointment for diagnosis. Before offering treatment options, the root cause of your snoring must be diagnosed. Our sleep specialists will start off by taking your history and performing a physical exam to determine if you require a sleep test to assess the severity of your snoring and possible sleep apnea. It could be that your snoring can be resolved by weight loss or change in your sleep habits and no further testing is necessary.
- Home sleep test. If we do determine that further testing in your case is necessary, we’ll recommend a convenient overnight home sleep test in the comfort of your own bed. Our home sleep test involves wearing a small device with sensors while you sleep. A member of our sleep team will give you clear instructions on how to use the test device. The main advantage of a home sleep test is convenience, but it also provides the actual environment and conditions where you normally sleep in order to provide the most accurate test results.
- Diagnosis. After your sleep test is completed and the data is collected, your sleep specialist will analyze the results with you. If it is determined that you have sleep apnea, treatment will be recommended.
- Treatment. If you have mild sleep apnea, we may recommend weight loss and/or changes in your lifestyle, such as reducing your intake of alcohol or caffeine. We will also recommend periodic check-ups to ensure your symptoms do not worsen. For moderate to severe sleep apnea, we offer several other treatment options, including oral appliances, a CPAP Machine, or surgical treatments.
Why shouldn’t I just buy an anti-snoring device at a store or online?
One of the main problems with the store-bought anti-snoring devices is that they are not custom-fitted to your mouth. While they may offer some temporary relief from snoring, they may also cause other problems such as exacerbating TMJ or altering your bite. Moreover, those devices do not treat sleep apnea, which is the biggest threat to one’s health if not diagnosed and properly treated.
For the right solution to stop snoring – and treat sleep apnea – take the first step by visiting your sleep specialists at NYC SleepWell today. Our goal, plain and simple, is to help you sleep well and be healthy!
