Most of us sleep in bedrooms that are much too warm. Sleep experts for decades have said that you will fall asleep faster and sleep longer in a room that's about 62-65 degrees F. Most bedrooms are kept around 70-72+ degrees, much too warm for a good, restful sleep. A cooler bedroom helps the body get ready for sleep.
So, turn down that thermostat to an ideal 60-62 degrees F at night. Save some money and enjoy a better night's sleep. If you're cold, use a lightweight comforter (one with a hypo-allergenic polyester filling is best) and if you snore, wear a SnorEnder.
You've Gotta Breathe!
The mouth is a "secondary" breathing organ, useful when you need lots of air quickly - exercise, running, or when your nose is blocked by a cold or flu. If you snore because your mouth is open during sleep, closing it will reduce the snoring in more than 85% of cases.
However, if you have undiagnosed nasal breathing difficulties, keeping the mouth closed is going to lead to real problems. If the mouth is closed, and your nose is blocked, how are you going to breathe?
Some users have reported a "panic" sensation, or discomfort while wearing the SnorEnder. In every case where we have talked with the customer via email or phone, we tell them two things:
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If they want a refund, just send the product back to us, we will refund 50% of your purchase price, less S&H.
They may very likely have sleep apnea, a serious and unrecognized nasal obstruction, or an underlying sinus condition that has gone undiagnosed.
Neti Pots
If you've never heard of the "Neti Pot" that's not surprising. Invented in Asia and used by millions of people for more than 2,000 years, the Neti Pot is a fast, easy, simple and VERY effective way to improve your nasal breathing, reduce sinus pain and irritation and reduce the "stuffy nose" effects of allergies, colds and the flu.
The Neti Pot may even be helpful for some migraine sufferers.
For more information, visit your local healthfood and organic products store. Or type in "neti pot" in a search engine such as Google or Yahoo. They're not expensive and they really work when used properly.
Recently (January 2008), articles in the popular media have reported on a few university studies that seem to indicate that some chronic snoring in adults MAY be linked somehow to low-grade bronchitis or chronic sinus infections. If this turns out to have some factual basis, it could lead to innovative solutions for many snorers. Meanwhile, using a neti pot just might help?
Forced-Air Heating Systems,
Breathing Problems & Snoring
Like most US and Canadian homes, yours is probably heated (and air-conditioned) by a forced-air system. Some researchers are starting to question the possible links between these heating systems and the epidemic of low-grade, chronic breathing problems in America.
In newer homes, the air circulation system is "closed" to promote energy saving. This means that the supply of fresh air may not be as "fresh" as needed. Forced-air heating also dries out the ambient air in your home. It may also dry out your respiratory system - and humidifiers built into newer HVAC systems require regular cleaning and maintenance. Otherwise, they are a perfect breeding ground for mould and other pathogens.
One major side-effect of improperly-maintained or installed HVAC systems in homes and offices is that it may be a contributory factor in the explosive rise in "sleep apnea," snoring and other respiratory problems among urban and suburban populations. This isn't as far-fetched as you may think. Consider what the effects of air pollution are in major cities. Serious air pollution is easy to see and easy to link to breathing problems. But even the much lower levels of pollution in the average home and ofice may also have low-grade, chronic effects. The use of HEPA filters in your HVAC system and vacuum cleaner and properly-maintaned humidifiers may help.
While it's impractical to replace these expensive systems, you should have a licensed HVAC professional inspect and clean your filters, air ducts and vents at least once every couple of years.
If you are having a new home custom-built, why not consider alternative HVAC solutions?
Who Returns a SnorEnder?
Not many people - about 3% (which is actually very good) - usually those who don't take the time to make sure that they can breathe easily and properly through their nose each time they use it. This is what we have learned from those who have returned the product - almost all of the very few SnorEnders that are returned come from customers who:
- Have significant "structural" problems breathing properly through their nose. Particularly while asleep. Poor NASAL breathing is a major cause of open-mouth snoring.
- They may have a deviated septum, sinus obstruction or other undiagnosed physical problems that interfere with proper and efficient nasal breathing.
- They may have chronic, low-level sinus congestion due to colds, flu, allergies or other respiratory disease - most snorers do!
- In most cases, they have never realized how much nasal obstruction they actually have.
- They may smoke, or drink alcoholic beverages prior to going to bed
- They just can't adjust to "wearing" anything on their head while sleeping.
- Or they complain that the SnorEnder is "hot." Keeping the bedroom at the right 60-62 degree temperature (or even a little cooler) is best. All of us at SnorEnder keep our rooms at 60 degrees at night, we all wear SnorEnder Pro's.
- If you can't pass the NOSE TEST, please DON'T order a SnorEnder. At least not until you've got the nasal breathing problem fixed. Then it can help reduce or even stop your snoring.
When we get an email or phone call from a customer who wants to return the product, we try to ask a couple of questions. Not because we're nosy, but because we use the information we gain to improve our products.
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*SnorEnder Refund Policy:
The products we make and sell are all custom, hand-made items and require significant labor. We will refund 50% of the purchase price when you return the product to us at the address listed here or on the enclosed instruction brochure that comes with your order. Shipping & Handling fees are NOT refundable. We will also charge a $5.00 refund fee because the credit card processors also charge us to issue a refund to your card. If this is not agreeable to you, please don't order. Thanks for understanding.
No refunds are given after the ONE YEAR Guarantee period is expired.
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QUESTIONS?
EMAIL US
customercare@snorender.com
NOSE TEST Questions We Are Asked:
Q: I can breathe just fine through my right nostril, but the left one seems stuffy.
Did I pass the NOSE TEST?
A: YES, you did. But you would probably benefit a lot from using a neti pot a couple times a week. You can find neti pots in your local health stores or online. It's an easy, cheap and very effective way to reduce allergy symptoms and nasal congestion. And it might even help with migraine headaches. We recommend that every snorer should use a neti pot because it is one simple, effective, safe and cheap nasal breathing aid that actually works. We don't make any money from our recommendation, we don't sell them. But we do use them ourselves.
Q: Until I took your NOSE TEST, I never realized how poor my nose breathing is! What can I do to improve it. My snoring is driving my wife nuts!
A: First, see your doctor. Get checked for Sleep Apnea. It's a serious sleep disorder that has been linked to heart disease and other potentially fatal conditions. Make sure that there isn't some deeper problem.
Second, if your doctor has no serious objections, buy yourself a neti pot and use it when needed before bed. There is a technique for using a neti pot that calls for deep inspiration of the saline solution into your nose and sinuses. It is a little hard to get used to the first time or two, but once you do it you'll be amazed at how much better you feel - with no drug side effects. It doesn't matter whether the neti pot is made of plastic or fired ceramic, whatever you like is just fine.
Q: I read somewhere that a proper snoring study often requires the patient to sedated (drugged until asleep), and that a simple NOSE TEST like your can't help me determine if I may have sleep apnea.
A: TRUE. Our NOSE TEST is no substitute for proper medical diagnosis or care. It is intended to help you understand the relationship between proper nasal breathing and non-apnea snoring, and show you why you should not order a SnorEnder if you can't breathe easily and properly through your nose when lying on your back. Nothing more is implied. If you have the symptoms of sleep apnea (like snoring), please see your doctor immediately.
If you snore, you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. ONLY your healthcare professional can diagnose this potentially life-threatening sleep disorder.
Q: I emailed you and a representative actually suggested that I try a competitor's product (chin tape) first. Why?
A: We respect our competitors and wish them ethical success. Non-apnea snoring is a HUGE problem, and we believe that you should be an informed consumer. One of the more promising anti-snoring products available today is the Chin-Up Strip (R). A box of 30 of these costs about $12.00, a month's supply. Since both the SnorEnder and this product work to help keep your mouth closed during sleep, you can learn whether the SnorEnder can be useful in reducing your non-apnea snoring.
Of course, the cost of a SnorEnder - which should last 1-2 years with proper care is substantially less expensive than the cost of a year's supply of chin tape (about $70.00 vs. more than $145 for 12 boxes - AND the manufacturer suggests that you use their product with nose tape too, an additional cost!).
Many people find they have sensitive skin around the chin and mouth and may have skin irritation or acne problems because of frequent application of an adhesive product. Also, the SnorEnder has advanced acupressure and magnetic therapy features not found in any other products.
Q: Where can I get more information on nasal breathing and neti pots?
A: WebMD has great information on nasal breathing, So does the Mayo Clinic and even many universities. If you use a search engine and enter "nasal breathing." all you will get is a bunch of ads for mouthguards, nose strips, clips, cones, sprays, snoring exercise CDs, herbal aromatherapy products, etc - none of them have ever helped us. Here are some web sites that have good information that you may find useful (we are not responsible for any content on external Web sites):
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Neti Pot on YouTube: This link will take you away from our website to Google's YouTube. The video shows you how to use a neti pot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzK9Gn4E_Eg
If the link is "stale" - it doesn't work anymore - just go to YouTube and search for "neti pot."
Of course, we must warn you that the "Comments & Responses" section will contain comments (really, just amateurish sales pitches) about some commercial products that claim to work better (but are "disposable" and almost always far more expensive to use over time).
And there will always be the usual comments from silly people who are quite obviously immature, rude, and even obscene - it is, after all, YouTube. We are not responsible for what happens on YouTube - we doubt that anyone can be.
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If you can't pass the NOSE TEST - if BOTH nostrils are stuffy, congested or plugged - we urge you to see your doctor promptly and get checked for possible sleep apnea or other sleep or nasal disorders. Of course, you may also want to try a neti pot for a few days - it's a lot cheaper and faster than drugs, with no side effects. Then take the NOSE TEST again. After all, you're still going to snore.
If you DO pass the NOSE TEST - and you can breathe easily through at least ONE nostril - and you want to reduce or even stop tyour non-apnea snoring, why not order a SnorEnder now?
If you don't pass the NOSE TEST after trying it several times, please see your doctor. You may have just a cold or allergy, or something more serious.