Did you know that half of all adults snore?
This is usually harmless, but it can be disruptive, leading many patients to take matters into their own hands.
One of the so-called “solutions” is placing tape over the mouth to promote nasal breathing. It’s often thought to reduce snoring, but, a recent study shows that’s not always the case.
“... And in some of the patients, the airway opened up and they were able to breathe better with less snoring, and in some of the patients, the airway tightened up and got worse. So, the short answer is there’s a heterogeneous response to this intervention and a lack of data demonstrating clear benefit with little harm.”
Dr. Eric Davis, director of UVA Health’s Sleep Disorders Center
Instead of mouth-taping, sleeping on your side, weight loss, and reducing alcohol use at night can also help with snoring.
Special night guards or seeing a sleep specialist can also help with severe snoring, which can be a sign of sleep apnea.
