Snoring Chin Strap, Who Is It For?

People who snore have often been the butt of jokes and slapstick comedy. The truth is, snoring can be a sign of something far worse than merely a nocturnal irritant to those who most endure the nightly disturbance – it can be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea or “sleep-disordered breathing” can lead to more serious conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even a stroke. Physicians often prescribe the use of a CPAP machine to help in the treatment of sleep apnea. This requires a sleep study to determine the severity of the sleep apnea.

However, many cases of sleep apnea are not severe and can even be reversed with proper diet, exercise and medical care. As far as the snoring is concerned, a snoring chin strap may be considered a viable alternative to a CPAP machine. Invented in 2001, the snoring chin strap was first considered by many as a scam or gimmick just to make money off of people who snore. But time and testing has proven the snoring chin strap to be an effective anti-snoring device in most cases and is now even administered by some clinics and hospitals that are treating sleep apnea.

It should be clearly understood that the snoring chin strap is not a cure for sleep apnea. However, many users say that they do get a better night’s sleep because the snoring strap does exactly what it is designed to do – it keeps them from snoring by relieving the pressure on the throat from breathing through the mouth during the night. That pressure causes the vibrations in the throat that result in the snoring sound.

The snoring chin strap is relatively simple piece of equipment; once in place, it supports the jaw in an upward position, which keeps the mouth closed. It also keeps the jaw from drifting back and down against the throat – a common occurrence when lying down. This support of the jaw actually allows the air passage to open more, which, in turn, reduces the velocity of the air going down the throat.

It is much like partially closing the opened end of a garden hose with the thumb. The more the end is covered, the faster the water – through simple linear acceleration – travels out of the end of the hose. When the thumb uncovers the end of the hose, the water flow returns to normal. By using the snoring chin strap, the pressure on the throat is relieved in much the same way and the vibrations causing the snoring is stopped. This results in a restful, restorative night of sleep and less sleepiness or the need for catnaps during the day.

The only drawback is when the patient has a head cold and finds breathing through his or her nose, rather than the mouth, more difficult. In such cases, health care providers suggest the use of a nasal decongestant spray before going to bed to help keep the nasal passages open.

The most common complaint regarding the snoring strap – other than the fact that most people say it looks funny – is the period of time it takes to get use to wearing it. Some complain that they just cannot get use to the strap holding their jaw in place, thus keep their mouth closed – they feel conscious of the strap at first, making relaxation difficult. Most snoring chin strap users admit that it takes a few days to get use to, but they are also quick to add that it is worth the effort.

Ironically, generally the same complaints are heard by roughly the same number of CPAP users, i.e.; the CPAP looks funny, feels strange and, in fewer cases, getting use to the face mask and the sound of the CPAP machine seems impossible.

The design of the snoring chin strap is basic with little variation from model to model and most are in the price range of $9 – $20, though some can cost as much as $90 with very little difference in design or product performance when compared to the less expensive models. They can easily be bought online and ship to arrive within three business days.