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52% of American adults either snore or have a partner who does, according to a new poll, and 72% of them have resorted to a host of tricks to try and silence the noise.
The top strategies to beat snoring include using extra pillows and drinking water before bed – some even attest to putting a tennis ball in your pajamas to stop you lying on your back.
Nasal strips, dilators, a hot shower before bed, and even sleeping while sitting up also featured in the top 30 list.
But while some avoid alcohol before bed or even at all (both 15%), one in 10 swear by a drink before nodding off to stop snoring.
Others have resorted to taping their mouth, putting a clothes pin on their nose, and even sleeping with their head at the end of the bed.
The survey by Onepoll of 2,000 adults was part of the 2023 Sleep & Snore Report commissioned by MuteSnoring.com in partnership with WebMD. It revealed that 53% of those who snore or live with a snorer are so fed up with the noise, they would do anything do stop it.
This sees them spend an average of $45.30 a year on items to try and silence it, but they would be willing to spend up to $596.60 if it meant it would stop for good.
More than four in 10 (42%) would even consider surgery in a bid to bring an end to the habit.
“While some of these are proven to help with snoring— like using extra pillows, humidifiers, and opening up the airways, things like sleeping upside down in the bed and wearing an eye mask aren’t likely to help that much,” according to Michael Johnson, CEO of Rhinomed.
It also emerged that, due to sleep disruption, 38% of partners have ended up sleeping in separate bedrooms—and 60% have admitted they’ve simply come to accept that it’s never going to go away.
In a bid to stop snoring, 42% have turned to the internet for advice, and 37% have sought help from health professionals.
Those classed as obese are more likely to be snorers (57%), compared to those who have an underweight (19%) or healthy body-mass index (29%).
Michael Johnson added: “Snoring doesn’t have to be something you simply put up with. With sound strategies, you really can reduce or even eliminate the snoring noise in your bedroom – and not surprisingly, improving your nasal breathing is one of the best things snorers can do.”
TOP STRATEGIES RESPONDENTS HAVE TRIED TO STOP SNORING
1. Using extra pillows2. Nasal strips/ dilator3. Hot shower or bath before bed4. Drinking more water5. Having a humidifier on6. Sleeping sitting up7. Sleeping the other way round e.g. head at the end of the bed8. Avoiding alcohol before bed9. Nasal spray before bed10. Saline rinses/ sprays11. Sipping warm honey and lemon before bed12. Using a mouthguard13. Rubbing decongestant onto your chest before bed14. Exercise before bed15. Wearing an eye mask16. Eating mints before bed17. Buying anti-snore pillows18. Wearing compression socks19. Snoring exercises20. Buy a snoring ring that’s meant to stop you snoring21. Rubbing Vaseline on the tip of your nose22. Put a tennis ball in your Pjs to stop you lying on your back23. Drinking alcohol before bed24. Thyme oil on your feet25. Acupuncture
The sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo offers these tips to reduce snoring:
1. Sleep on your side – By sleeping on your back, you exacerbate snoring. Sleeping on your side, or at the very least, having your face on the side, reduces it.
2. Ensure you are at a healthy weight – Weight reduction can in some cases eliminate symptoms.
3. Consider a nasal dilator for a simple, straightforward solution that can help to make breathing easier at night.
4. Reduce alcohol intake – Alcohol is a risk factor for snoring because it relaxes the muscles in the upper airways, causing them to collapse through the night and amplify snoring.
Do you have more snoring tips to share? Share in the comments below or on Social Media…