Snoring Treatments, Do They Work

Posting Date: 10/03/2003

Dr. Dean's Comments: This is the first time professionals have taken a look at OTC snoring treatments and compared them head to head. The results were disappointing to say the least.

Source: American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS)

Doubt on Effectiveness of Popular Commercial Snoring Treatments

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Traditional treatments for snoring can range from weight loss to a change in sleeping patterns to one of multiple well-documented surgical options. Currently, over 300 non-invasive, over-the-counter snoring remedies are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. However, the question remains, ?Do these treatments really work??

Experts estimate that nearly 60 million adults snore, an annoyance that can lead to marital discord, social problems, and even homicide. Snoring can also be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially life threatening condition marked by breathing cessations during sleep.

Habitual snoring, which is estimated to affect from 24 to 50 percent of men and 14 to 30 percent of women, is a symptom of sleep-disordered breathing and stems from vibration of anatomical structures of the upper aerodigestive tract while sleeping. Traditional treatments for snoring can range from weight loss to a change in sleeping patterns to one of multiple well-documented surgical options. Many patients decline to seek a surgical solution or change their lifestyle to solve their snoring problem.

Although there are multiple well-documented surgical options for snoring, many patients prefer to try non-invasive aids first due to convenience, decreased convalescence or fear of surgery and the associated discomfort.

Currently, over 300 non-invasive, over-the-counter snoring remedies are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. However, the question remains, ?Do these treatments really work?? Peter G. Michaelson, MD, and Eric A. Mair, MD, both at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, address this question. Their study ?Popular Snore Aids: Do they work?? will be presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology?Head and Neck Surgery Foundation www.entnet.org Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, Orlando, FL, being held September 21-24, 2003.