If you or your partner is a snorer, you could be in luck. For an anesthetic nurse believes she may have found the cure to sleepless nights.
A simple hack, which involves simply ensuring the mouth is closed during sleep, could stop the irritating noise in seconds, she suggested in a video posted to Instagram.
The method is supported by doctors, with one responding to the clip saying the technique could result in, ‘the best sleep of your life’.
Ensuring the mouth is in the correct position can ‘significantly improve sleep quality,’ according to Dr Sermed Mezher, a London-based GP who has over 337,000 followers on Instagram.
In a separate clip, Dr Mezher explained the reason why the technique is so effective.
He said: ‘As a society we have normalised snoring, but it’s actually caused by a partial obstruction of the airway which leads to turbulent air flow and the loud sound.’
While there are many different reasons why people snore, it is often caused by the tongue and soft tissue in the throat relaxing as we fall asleep, and narrowing the space for air to pass through.
‘This narrowing causes tissues to vibrate, producing the sound we recognise as snoring’, Dr Mezher explained.
An anaesthetic nurse demonstrated the simple hack in a video posted to TikTok
But by pushing the mouth closed, the space between the tongue and the lower jaw widens, creating more space for air and reducing the vibrations.
In the caption to Dr Mezher’s video, which has been viewed over 413,000 times, he said the technique is medically known as jaw thrust.
But, for people who are looking for a simpler solution than holding their partner’s jaw shut all night long, the doctor advised investing in a type of mouth guard known as a mandibular advancement device.
He said: ‘These devices work by gently holding the lower jaw in a forward position. By doing so, they stabilise the airway, pull the tongue slightly forward and prevent collapse, allowing for smoother, quieter breathing throughout the night.’
According to the NHS, for best results, snorers need to wear the device for as long as possible through the night, ideally between five and six hours.
However, it can take a bit of time to get used to the feeling of sleeping with a guard, especially for people who are prone to clenching their jaw at night.
Dr Mezher said: ‘These devices are particularly effective for people with habitual snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea.’
Dr Mezher advised using a mouth shied, known as a mandibular advancement device, to help open up the airways
Sleep apnoea can lead to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.
In obstructive sleep apnoea, the airway blockage can cause people to stop breathing.
While some cases of sleep apnoea can be treat by making lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking and losing weight, left untreated, it can lead to more serious problems, the NHS warns.
Symptoms of sleep apnoea mainly occur while sleeping, including breathing stopping and starting, making gasping or choking noises, waking up a lot and loud snoring.
During the day, sufferers may also feel extremely tired, find it hard to concentrate and experience mood swings.
Without treatment, this can lead to more serious health issues, including high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.
Dr Mezher said: ‘With proper fitting by a trained provider, these devices can significantly improve sleep quality—for both the user and their partner—while addressing a key underlying cause of snoring.’
