How To Stop Snoring Instantly

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Continuous positive airway pressure, often referred to as CPAP, is typically an option only considered when a number of others have proven to be unsuccessful. This method is usually used to treat obstructive sleep apnea, but it is also useful to treat snoring that cannot be treated in a less intrusive way. CPAP machines are pretty expensive and involve wearing a mask on the nose, and sometimes the mouth, all night. The machine that the mask is connected to continuously pumps air under low pressure through the patient's airways. This constant low pressure keeps the back of the patient's tongue and uvula, the dangly thing in the back of the throat, from vibrating against their soft palate. The first night of sleep with a CPAP machine is often spent at a hospital's sleep center so a specialist can set the appropriate adjustments.

When talking to a doctor about snoring and the possibility of continuous positive airway pressure as a treatment option, patients should be honest about how snoring is interfering with their waking hours. Are they tired during the day? Do they have difficulty concentrating? Has their work or relationships suffered? Does their snoring cause them to wake up with a sore throat, aching sinuses, or a headache? These are things patients should bring up to start a productive conversation with their physician.