Snoring spray is one of the many products on the market that claims to be able to stop snoring. There are many brands of snoring spray and they may contain things like glycerin, menthol or peppermint oil, a small amount of alcohol, and water. These products claim to help reduce snoring because they lubricate the uvula, throat and tonsils and also help to shrink the tissues of these areas, which may reduce vibrations.
As attractive as snoring spray sounds, most tests conducted on these products show them to be of little benefit. There is the possibility that the addition of things like peppermint or menthol may help slightly reduce nasal congestion, and this in turn could help minimize snoring. Unfortunately a snoring spray is not the miracle cure that most people hope for, and there’s little evidence that lubricating the throat ends most types of snoring.
On the other hand, if the product appears to work, there are few types that pose any harm, although most types are not for use with children. Some people find more relief with products that may be made by the same companies that make snoring spray. For instance, if nasal congestion is the main cause of snoring, nasal strips might reduce this problem.
Others snore for a wide variety of reasons and won’t be helped by snoring spray. People who are overweight routinely snore, smokers are likely to snore too, and some people suffer from very serious conditions like sleep apnea. In general, if snoring is loud and chronic, it may suggest other conditions that deserve treatment. This is especially true if it is accompanied by periods when a person stops breathing for a few seconds (apnea). This condition can be a true risk to people, resulting in excessive sleepiness during the day and a diminished amount of oxygen levels in the blood at night.
Instead of snoring spray, those with sleep apnea should see a doctor, who may recommend a sleep study in order to look at causes of snoring. Most people with mild snoring may not have this condition and they might want to try things like nasal strips or even the spray to see if it will help. Other alternatives can include having sleeping partners use earplugs so they don’t have to listen to nightly snoring or making sure to sleep on the side, which is usually associated with less snoring.