The invention is called Jukusui-Kun, which means “deep sleep” in Japanese, and is a robotic polar bear pillow.  The device contains a remote pulse oxygen meter that is attached to the snorer’s hand, in the form of a baby polar bear.  When the snoring gets too loud and the oxygen level in the blood drops, the bear goes into action, and gently paws at the face of the snorer.  Quite often, that gentle touch will make the snorer change position without waking them, stopping the snoring.

The bear also contains a microphone so it can monitor the noise level of the snoring.  A wireless terminal collects and analyses the data and controls the actions of Jukusui-Kun.  It is quite an imaginative and useful tool in the fight against snoring, but the product is still only in its testing stages, and is not yet available to consumers.

With the high-tech gadgetry the bear contains, there is the question of how effective the device is.  The Waseda University in Tokyo is probably the only institution that can answer that question when their testing phase is complete.  But you have to admit that the premise behind it is “sound” one.

If you have information on similar devices to help with a snoring problem, please share it in our comments section for all of our fellow snorers.

Diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea is easily done through testing in a sleep laboratory.  If you or your significant other have a snoring problem you should see your doctor in order to have the testing scheduled.  It normally requires a night away from home so that you can be monitored in the sleep lab to determine how many times a night you quit breathing.  This determines whether or not you have obstructive sleep apnea or merely a common snoring condition.

With either diagnosis, there are many effective treatments available to reduce or prevent snoring.  It your doctor determines that you have obstructive sleep apnea he or she may prescribe the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.  It provides a steady stream of air through a nasal mask, allowing the airways to remain open during sleep.  This prevents, and quite often even cures, a snoring problem.  However, not everyone can tolerate wearing the CPAP mask.

In some cases, snoring can be prevented by the use of an oral device that is similar to the mouth guards worn while playing sports.  The device allows the bottom jaw to move forward during sleep, keeping the airways open.  The effectiveness of the device depends on how severe your snoring problem is.  You can discuss this treatment option with your doctor, who may refer you to a dentist that specializes in the fitting and creation of the device.

If you have a snoring problem, please let us know which of the many treatments you are using and how effective it is.

Recent years has brought about the discovery of different methods of curing a snoring problem.  One that has been shown to work well is the Pillar Procedure, which is a minor procedure that can be done in your doctor’s office in about 20 minutes using a local anesthetic.  However, it should be noted that not every patient is ideally suited for the procedure, and there some minor risks.

The procedure involves surgically implanting several (three to five) polyester rods into the soft palate.  Each one measures 18 millimeters in length (just under an inch) and 1.5 millimeters in diameter.  They are placed parallel to each other in the soft palate.  The subsequent healing process and the body’s natural response to the implants stiffens the soft palate over a period of two to three months.  This reduces the relaxation of the tissues, thereby reducing or eliminating snoring.  The Pillar Procedure is used in the treatment of mild to moderate OSA as well as chronic snoring.

If you or someone you know has had this procedure, please let us know whether the treatment was successful and whether you would recommend it to others that suffer from OSA or a chronic snoring problem.

But if the snoring is continuous, night after night, with pauses in breathing, it can mean the snorer has a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).  This condition can and does affect the overall health of the sufferer, contributing to conditions such as heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

For some people, losing a few pounds can improve a snoring problem.  Getting plenty of exercise and choosing healthy foods helps in a dieting program to reduce snoring.  Because of excessive fat and tissue around the face, throat and chest, obese people are more likely to acquire OSA.

Try getting a new pillow.  Some people still sleep on feather pillows, which are more likely to contain dust mites.  People that usually do not have any problems in the day time suddenly become congested shortly after their head hits the pillow, causing them to breathe through their mouths and snore.

You should also avoid sleeping on your back.  This allows the tongue and the lower jaw to slide back, blocking or constricting the airway causing snoring.  Another suggestion is to raise the head of your bed slightly or sleep with more than one pillow, helping to keep the bottom jaw forward.  This reduces the instance of snoring.

If you have other tips to reduce or eliminate snoring, please share them here.  There are many treatments available, so let us know what works for you.

Although the evidence isn’t solid at this point, it is believed that enlargement of the thyroid contributes to OSA by constricting the airways during sleep.  Because the thyroid gland is located in the neck, if it gets enlarged its size can press on the airways causing a narrowing or constricting of the airway, especially when the sufferer is lying down.  During sleep, the muscles in the neck and face relax, allowing the thyroid goiter to push down on the airway.

Based on this premise, the University of Wisconsin evaluated the results from removal or reduction of the thyroid in the treatment of OSA.  The patients with OSA that had the surgery were asked to complete a survey regarding their symptoms before and after the surgery in order to determine if it relieved some of their symptoms.  The results showed a reduction in the number of patients that were at risk for severe OSA (51% versus the original 71%) for the patients that went through the surgical procedure.

Given the fact that OSA is such a complex condition, the information given in this study is one more step in finding a cure and effective treatment for the condition, as well as for non-affecting intermittent snoring.  Let us know what you think of the information given here.

The long-time standard treatment for OSA has been the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.  A mask is worn over the nose and mouth, and air is pushed into the airways to keep them open.  The treatment is highly effective – if the OSA sufferer actually uses it.

There have been studies done on a new product developed by Ventus Medical called ProVent.  It is an easy-to-use, disposable device that is available by prescription.  ProVent uses nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to keep the sleeper’s airways open at night.  The latest study on the device showed that patients using the product showed a 70 percent reduction in the median apnea hypopnea index (AHI) over a 12 month period of treatment.  (The AHI is the number of times a person stops breathing per hour during sleep.)

The amazing fact about the study is that it showed that patients were more compliant with the treatment, since it is non-invasive and does not require a mask and hose.  Patients reported using the device on 90 percent of their nights, which is a much higher compliance rate than for the CPAP machine, which resulted in a 74 percent reduction in snoring.  In addition, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale results were reduced by five points, showing that the study participants are getting the oxygen and proper sleep that they need.

If you have tried this treatment to stop snoring, or you have found other treatments that have been effective for you, please share them with is here.

According to Dr. David Volpi of Manhattan Snoring and Sleep Center, a person with OSA can stop breathing and wake up about 50 to 60 times in a night, making their average time asleep only about 2 to 3hours in a 12-hour stretch.  That is some serious sleep deprivation!  So it follows that you just don’t feel very amorous after a long day dragging through your job.

But it isn’t only the sleep deprivation on the part of the OSA sufferer, but their bed partner as well.  With the noise as well as the tossing and turning, neither one gets the sleep they need.  This has a physical effect not only because of the lack of sleep, but in hormonal imbalance as well.  With the lack of sleep, the body (for both men and women) does not have the chance to replenish the sex hormone, testosterone.  This means that men are unable to perform, and women simply don’t care if they do.  So getting treatment for OSA is the way to find that “spark” again.

There are treatments that are being developed and tested, and some that are already FDA approved that may relieve the symptoms of OSA.  One such treatment is called ProVent, which is by prescription only, and is a pair of devices that are worn over the nostrils during sleep.  The treatment does not involve a machine or tubing, and appears to be effective for almost all cases of OSA.  Let us know if you have pursued this type of treatment, or if you would in your pursuit of a snoring cure.  It will be interesting to see how many OSA sufferers decide to replace their CPAP machines for alternative treatments.

The snoring associated with OSA is caused by the constriction of the airways when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep.  The airways vibrate as the sleeper tries to draw in more air, causing the noise that keeps others awake.  At times, the snorer may quit breathing for a short period of time (apnea), making them wake up and change positions to breathe again.

The relaxing of the tongue and throat muscles is the basis for a clinical trial of a new device to stop snoring.  The University Hospitals Case Medical Center is starting a clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using electronic stimulation in the treatment of OSA.  The Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction (STAR) trial involves the use of an implantable electronic stimulation device that delivers mild stimulation to the main nerve of the tongue with the breathing cycles during sleep.  This is intended to restore tone to the muscles, preventing the tongue from collapsing and blocking the airway.

The Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) device is turned on and off by the user with a handheld programmer, allowing them to determine when the device is used.  The treatment of OSA with this device may help sufferers that are non-compliant with other treatments like the CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine.  In addition, it does not permanently alter a patient’s anatomy like surgical procedures do.

This news gives OSA sufferers and their loved ones great hope in finding a cure for their snoring that they can live with.  Let us know if you feel this method works and if you would use it in your search for a snoring cure.

Some symptoms to watch for in children with OSA are restless sleep, snoring, irritability, hyperactivity, aggression, breathing from the mouth, and poor concentration.  In some cases, a growth delay may be apparent.  It is important for parents to be aware of their child’s sleeping habits and symptoms in order to know when their physician should be consulted.  Having the upper airways examined is the first step in treating the condition, preventing other health risks later in life.

In order to assess the cause and degree of a child’s OSA, diagnostic tests may be necessary.  X-rays, CT scans, laryngoscopy, cephalometry, or an overnight sleep study can give the physician the information they need in treating the affliction.  The most common cause of childhood OSA is tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy, or enlargement.  Other causes can include allergic rhinitis (chronic nasal blockage due to allergies), obesity, muscular dystrophy, or craniofacial abnormalities.   It should be noted that there is an increased risk of siblings also having OSA.

The most common treatment for childhood OSA is the surgical removal of the adenoids and tonsils (adenotonsillectomy), which has been shown to be effective.  Other treatments include a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to keep the airways open, correction of craniofacial abnormalities, or (in severe cases) tracheostomy.  Parents should seek early treatment for OSA in order to improve their child’s quality of life, and prevent future problems.

Please share your experiences with childhood OSA, and other signs and symptoms that parents should watch for.

There are times during sleep that he may quit breathing for short periods of time due to airway obstruction.  He changes position to breathe again, and then resumes snoring.  And so the night-time drama continues.  Mrs. Smith is left holding a pillow over her hears in order to block out the rumble, while Mr. Smith “saws logs,” getting all of the rest that he can.  The problem is that neither one of them are willing to do anything about it, being unwilling to find a solution to the problem.

Instead of addressing the problem, both partners will complain to each other, only reinforcing negative feelings toward the problem.  Instead of concentrating on finding their cure for snoring, they are only pushing each other away.  Just like having a mistress in the marriage, the snoring becomes the wedge that can dissolve the relationship.

The suggestion is that the couple should sit down and decide how to treat the snoring problem, rather than giving in to an ingrained urge to complain with a feeling of helplessness.  In discussing the problem rationally different options can come to light, and there is bound to be one that satisfies both in the marriage.  There is plenty of information on snoring cures available, so don’t be afraid to explore and share your experiences here as well.