Using Breathe Right Strips for Snoring and Other Breathing Problems
Did you know that more than half of the population snores? Do you occasionally snore or sleep with someone who does? Not only is snoring a nuisance, but many snorers suffer from obstructive sleep apnea as well.
Sleep apnea is often associated with difficulty breathing thus leading to a poor night’s sleep. Daytime drowsiness can occur, and your quality of life decreases. Sufferers from prolonged sleep apnea can often end up with higher blood pressure which could ultimately lead to heart disease.
There have been many claims of miraculous cures for the snoring epidemic and other similar breathing problems. But the primary focus is being able to breathe easily and get a great night’s sleep. Using Breathe Right Strips could be the perfect solution.
What Causes Snoring?
When you sleep, your muscles relax. As air is pulled in, the tongue pulls up against the soft palate in the back of your throat and the opening narrows causing a vibration of the tissues. Because it closes all the way, no air is able to get in, thus causing a deprivation of oxygen and your brain sends a message to your body to wake up.
Why Do People Snore?
People snore for different reasons. Some of the more common conditions that affect the airway and cause snoring are:
There are dozens of products that claim to provide a solution, however, most of these products, such as nasal sprays and decongestant medicines, contain chemicals and other unnatural ingredients.
Breathe Right
The Breathe Right Strips open your nasal passageways in a natural drug-free way to help in correcting night-time breathing difficulties, especially nasal congestion and problems with a deviated septum.
Why Breathe Right Strips Help with So Many Breathing Problems
Nasal strips have been used for several years as a noted relief aid for breathing problems. It's a natural method of creating a clearer airway for oxygen to enter and exit the body and is ideal for people suffering from snoring.
Breathe Right Strips are a kind of adhesive bandage with embedded plastic strips that are applied to the bridge of the nose and across the flare of each nostril. They act as a kind of external nasal dilator.
If you are having problems with your nostrils shutting down, it basically gently pulls them up allowing for better airflow giving you immediate and continued relief.
Breathe Right Strips are useful in increasing the volume of airflow through the nasal cavity in the front inch and a half of your nose.
For chronic snorers, they have been shown to reduce the loudness of snoring and improve the quality of sleep for not only the snorer but the others around the snorer.
If you're congested from a cold or allergies, you already know the airway is somewhat blocked making it difficult to breathe. By using a Breathe Right Strips, the passageway is widened and there is less airflow resistance making it easier to breathe.
If you suffer from a deviated septum, relief is here. A deviated septum is a deformity of the nose. This deformity prevents the natural division of the cartilage and bone in the nose. It collapses one side of the nose or nostril. When this occurs, breathing can be challenging and air intake limited. The Breathe Right Strips provide an easy solution by pulling back the nostrils to give a larger available airway providing temporary relief.
Summary Thoughts
If you are among one of the many who snores, whether it is from congestion due to a cold, allergies or sinus infections or if you have a deviated septum, Breathe Right Strips are the perfect non-drug alternative to a good night’s sleep.
What are Breathe Right nasal strips?
Breathe Right nasal strips are a drug-free, non-prescription snoring aids that work to mechanically open nasal passages and reduce resistance to air flowing through the nose, making breathing easier. They are flexible adhesive bands that are placed on the outside of the bridge of the nose. These are effective for users who are suffering from nasal congestion due to cold or allergies. While not primarily considered a stop snoring aid, one of the benefits of this product is that it can alleviate or eliminate snoring.
In 1991, Bruce Johnson had trouble breathing through his nose at night, he wondered “why not try opening the nasal passages mechanically from the outside of the nose?” After three years of development, he had created the Breathe Right nasal strip. The device was patented and brought to market in 1992.
In the UK, nasal strips became popular as a performance-enhancing aid (because they promote better sleep) when they were used and endorsed by Robbie Fowler, the Liverpool football striker.
About the company
Breathe Right was originally marketed and sold by CNS. Founded in 1982 to develop equipment for brain wave analysis, CNS raised $3.2 million from its 1987 initial public offering. In 1985, the company was developing products for use in sleep disorder clinics. In 1991, Bruce Johnson was looking for clinical proof of the effectiveness of Breathe Right strips, and a relationship with CNS was forged.
In 2006, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the British pharmaceuticals behemoth acquired CNS for $566 million. GSK, known for its pharmaceuticals, made the acquisition to boost its consumer healthcare division. Governments in countries with nationalized healthcare are always looking for ways to reduce healthcare costs, and safe over-the-counter products are an effective way of doing so.
With the CNS acquisition, GSK acquired Breathe Right strips as well as the Fiber Choice brand.
Competing Products
The snoring aids market has many different sub-categories. There are two types of nasal dilators. The first of which are products designed to fit inside the nasal passages, such as Nozovent and WoodyKnows. The second category is nasal strips that adhere to the outside of the nose and includes Breathe Right strips.
Direct competitors to Breathe Right strips include Snoreeze, MQ Better Breath, Sequoia Breathe-ability, Premier Value nasal strips, and many stores (including Walmart) carry private label versions of these products.
How do Breathe Right nasal strips work?
Breathe Right strips are single-use flexible, “spring-like” bands. The underside of each band is an adhesive layer that sticks to the skin on the outside of the nose right above the flare of each nostril. As the bands attempt to straighten out, they lift the sides of the nose and open the nasal passages.
The human nose is divided into two nostrils. At the back of each nostril is the nasal valve which is a tiny opening that measures about 1/10” wide. All the air that you breathe through your nose must pass through these two tiny openings. The nasal valves are easily blocked, most often from nasal congestion due to cold or allergies. The Breathe Right strip widens the space by pulling open the cartilage walls of the nasal valves, making it easier to breathe.
The strips can be a bit tricky to remove. The adhesive must be strong enough to stay in place for 8 hours. If not removed carefully, the adhesive can leave blemishes on the user’s skin. There is an option for sensitive skin which is easier to remove.
While the company claims Breathe Right strips offer immediate relief, some users report that it took up to 30 minutes for them to feel the effects.
Video closeup of the BreatheRight Nasal Strips
What are the options for Breathe Right nasal strips?
All the Breathe Right products are approved for use by people 5 years and older. GSK claims all the products open the nasal passages up to 38% more than with nasal decongestant sprays alone.
Single-use Breathe Right strips cost about $.30 per night. Although a clear material was chosen for the sensitive skin option, they are not invisible and are noticeable on daytime wearers.
My Experience
My first night, I applied a Breathe Right strip to see how it felt and if it was comfortable enough to sleep with. I’m not sure if I applied it properly, as I could not get the edges to stick. I decided not to use the snoring app for the first night. I slept well and woke up early the next morning. The strip stayed attached all night, which surprised me. When I woke up, I was aware that the strip felt annoying. It was not painful, but I was aware that it was there and wanted to take it off. Which was like ripping off a band-aid. Removal was painful.
On the second day, I tried using a Breathe Right strip for a 30-minute nap. I recorded my breathing during the nap. Heavy breathing but no snoring, which I took to be a good sign. During ensuing nights, I used my snoring app and did not see any improvement in my snoring or breathing. When I use a nasal dilator (one of the products that fits inside the nostrils), I immediately notice an improvement in my breathing.
Does Breathe Right work for snoring?
Admittedly, my snoring is not nasal allergy based, and Breathe Right strips did not work for my snoring. If your snoring is due to nasal allergies, give them a try. If you visit the Breathe Right website, they will send you a free sample. Again, Breathe Right is not advertised as a snoring solution, but the box does state that the product "Reduces snoring due to nasal congestion."
Another nasal snoring solution I've reviewed is Woody Knows.
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