AIRMAX™ Snoring Nasal Device (Nasal Dilator)

Benefits

The AIRMAX™ Snoring Nasal Device helps with various conditions. Below is an overview of the conditions for which it can offer relief:

Snoring

AIRMAX™ is an example of a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment for snoring. Its efficacy has been proven in clinical studies.The sound of snoring is sometimes so strong that a partner, family or in some cases even the neighbors suffer from its effects. Snoring* is created by a restriction in the airway. It is caused by vibrations of the soft palate and other tissue in the mouth, nose and throat (upper airway). It is caused by turbulence inside the airway during inspiration. The turbulence is caused by a partial blockage that may be located anywhere from the tip of the nose to the vocal chords.Twenty percent of all adults are chronic snorers, and 45% of normal adults snore occasionally. As people grow older, their chance of snoring increases. Approximately half of all individuals over 60 snore regularly.

The following are possible causes of snoring:

• Sleeping position (on the back)
• Narrowing of the nasal cavity
• Blocked nose due to a cold, allergies, etc.
• Collapsing nostrils
• Fatigue
• Alcohol and Sleeping pills
• Smoking
• Overeating and lack of exercise

An ENT specialist can determine what makes you snore. He/she will ask you questions to check if any of the reasons listed above could be a possible cause for snoring. In addition, the ENT specialist may investigate the nose and the pharynx extensively with a flexible endoscope. Sometimes further tests like allergy tests or X-rays need to be used to determine the cause of the snoring. 
Snoring can be corrected by surgical or non-surgical treatments.

Sleep Apnea

AIRMAX™ can help in cases of light sleep apnea/OSA and it can be used in combination with an oxygen mask (e.g. CPAP) and has been proven to increase compliance for CPAP users. AIRMAX™ efficacy has been proven in clinical studies.

Obstructive sleep apnea* (OSA) is a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep. The muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax and collapse sufficiently to cause a total blockage of the airway; it is called an apnea when the airflow is blocked for 10 seconds or more. The term ‘obstructive’ distinguishes OSA from rarer forms of sleep apnea, such as central sleep apnea, which is caused by the brain ‘forgetting’ to breathe during sleep. 
Sleep apnea is associated with being overweight, and other risk factors.

Sleep is driven by natural brain activity. You need to have a certain amount of deep sleep for your body and mind to be fully refreshed. Having only limited episodes of deep sleep will leave you feeling very tired the next day. During the night, people with OSA may experience repeated episodes of apnea. During an episode, lack of oxygen causes the person to come out of deep sleep and into a lighter state of sleep, or a brief period of wakefulness, in order to restore normal breathing. However, after falling back into deep sleep, further episodes of apnea can occur. Such events may occur more than once a minute throughout the night.

Most people with OSA snore loudly. Their breathing may be noisy and labored and is often interrupted by gasping and snorting with each episode of apnea. The repeated interruptions to sleep caused by OSA can make the person feel very tired during the day. A person with OSA will usually have no memory of breathlessness, so they are often unaware that they are not getting a proper night’s sleep.

* Source: National Health Service (NHS), United Kingdom

Nasal congestion

While many people think that a nose gets congested* (stuffy) from too much thick mucus, in most cases, the nose becomes congested when the tissues lining it become swollen. The swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep.AIRMAX™ helps patients suffering from nasal congestion to breathe more freely through the nose. Its efficacy has been proven in clinical studies.

A stuffy nose is usually caused by a virus or bacteria. Causes include:

• Common cold
• Flu
• Sinus infection

The congestion typically goes away by itself within a week.

Congestion also can be caused by:

• Hay fever or other allergies
• Use of some nasal sprays or drops for more than 3 days (may make nasal stuffiness worse)
• Nasal polyps
• Pregnancy
• Vasomotor rhinitis