Many people who snore are actually exhibiting a symptom of sleep apnea. When people try to end their snoring by changing the position they sleep in or something about their lifestyle, they may be missing the real cause of their snoring, which could require more dramatic steps to treat successfully.

Both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are cause by blockage of the nasal airway and throat. This limits how much air gets in and the snoring is actually the vibrations of the tissue in the airway.

Invented in 1981 by Colin Sullivan, CPAP, which stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure, is a cheap and very limitedly invasive method for getting rid of snoring problems. The inventor is now a sleep researcher at the University of Australia.

For CPAP to be effective you have to be able to breathe through your nose - it won’t help people who are mouth-breathers. This device is fairly easy to use. A pump sits on the floor by the bed.

Air flows into your nostrils through a mask placed over your nose and attached to your face with two straps. The mask is connected to the main device by means of a plastic air hose.

The above mentioned CPAP equipment is not found just anywhere, and is only available after having had your sleep habits studied by a specialist who will analyze your needs related to snoring. You will also need a prescription from your doctor to obtain the CPAP device.

The CPAP apparatus has been improved upon quite a bit and are now smaller and more convenient than they were twenty-five years ago. Travel sized CPAP machines have even been designed for use during air travel, but you will need to double check with an airline before bringing such a device with you.

CPAP users report very high levels of success; some studies even showing that all subjects have been aided in eliminating their snoring problem.

If your symptoms make you think that sleep apnea could be what is causing you to snore, talk to a medical professional that will help you to decide what treatment will be best fit for your circumstances.

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