At last! A solution for snoring

Brazilian doctors may have found a quick fix for snoring. Photo: Thinkstock

Are your night time roars keeping you and your partner awake?

There may be hope, according to a Brazilian study published in the journal CHEST. The study, published online, found that patients with mild snoring, or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can benefit from mouth or tongue exercises.

While for the most part, it has been difficult to measure the effectiveness of mild snoring treatments as so many studies rely on self-reporting. Reports of prevalence can vary from anywhere between 15 to 54 per cent of people.

Common treatments for snoring include avoiding alcohol or sedatives, avoiding lying on your back, weight loss, surgery for nasal problems and dental sleep devices. This particularly study found that exercises reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 per cent and the total power of snoring by 59 per cent.

Study author Geraldo Lorenzi-Filho said: “Past studies have focused on self-reporting questionnaires, New forms of treatment for snoring focusing on objective measures were needed. We tested the effectiveness of oropharyngeal exercises to reduce snoring…the exercises significantly reduces snoring in our study group.”

More: The easiest way to better sleep

Some of the exercises participants practised included:
1. Pushing the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth and sliding the tongue backward
2. Sucking the tongue upward against the roof of the mouth, and pressing the entire tongue against the roof of the mouth
3. Forcing the back of the tongue against the floor of the mouth while keeping the tip of the tongue in contact with the bottom, front teeth
4. And elevating the back of the roof of the mouth and uvula while saying the vowel "A"

Related:

The best meditation apps
Six reasons why morning walks give you an edge