How to avoid Snoring on a Plane

Whether it’s for business purposes, taking a family vacation, or a solo adventure for fun and relaxation, flying has been a favorite traveling mode for a significant percentage of the world’s populace.  And if it’s a longer flight, you might consider taking a nap during part of the flight.  But what happens if that innocent nap turns into a “snore-fest” that disturbs others traveling on that plane with you? Not only can this spoil the trip for those other passengers, it can be embarrassing for you when you learn what you were doing. Snoring affects 24% of women and 44% of men so it is not a rare occurrence, if you snore on a flight. 

What causes Someone to Snore while they’re on a Plane?

What’s even more important is do you know how to avoid snoring on a plane? Is there an anti-snoring solution that can help? Are there snoring relief products that really work? Here are a few things to wrap your mind around where the issue of snoring on a plane is concerned.  Suffice it to say, avoiding snoring while flying is often a matter of simple physics.  Here’s why.

It appears that not snoring when flying is easier to accomplish than not snoring while you’re sleeping in your bed.  This is because when you’re sitting upright while flying, gravity isn’t pulling on your airway.  Thus, your tongue doesn’t fall back and block your airway.  Consequently, if you snore while flying, it could mean you’re suffering with sleep apnea.  Your tongue cuts off your airflow, causes your mouth and throat muscles to vibrate, and eventually wakes you up.

One of the many causes of snoring is alcohol consumption. While this may help you avoid stress when flying, it increases your risk of more snoring.  Drinking alcohol relaxes the muscles in the mouth and throat and often causes an obstruction in the airway.  The same holds true for people who smoke tobacco.  If you have problems snoring while flying, you might want to consider an anti- snoring solution or snoring relief products to help you avoid doing this.

Techniques to help prevent Snoring on a Plane

Obviously, you don’t want snoring to be an issue or a source of embarrassment while surrounded by other passenger on your flight.  So here are some helpful techniques that can help prevent this from happening:

1. Select the Right Seat:

Selection of a seat can make a difference as individuals in the window seats are less likely to slouch or shift into an awkward position, eliminating an airway obstruction. Seated in a window seat, you can lean against the cabin wall, so there is no head tilt or head falling back, which increases your chances of snoring. 

2. Utilize Neck Pillow:

A neck pillow ensures proper alignment of the neck and head, helping keep the breathing airways open. That reduces your risk of snoring. Neck pillows help to stabilize the head and prevents it from falling back when you are asleep in a sitting position. As per the published study in Journal of Travel Medicine found that using the neck pillow lowered incidents of snoring by 35%.  

3. Hydration is key:

Keeping your body hydrated is important. Drinking water before and in flight is important. By reducing the dryness, you will have a moist throat and nasal passages, thereby reducing snoring when asleep. As per the Aviation Health Institute, passengers need to drink about 8 oz. of water every hour for maintaining ideal hydration level as cabin air has typically 10-20% humidity, lower than the recommended 40-60%. 

4. Avoid Smoking, Sedatives and Alcohol Before Flying:

Though sedatives and alcohol can relax you before the flight, it leads to throat muscle relaxation, increasing the chances of snoring. Alcohol and sedatives enhance the likelihood of snoring by 50% as compared to those passengers that avoid it. Smoking increases irritation of the nasal passages and the dry cabin air amplifies your risk of snoring on board. 

5. Nasal Sprays/Strips and OTC remedies:

Nasal saline sprays, strips and even chin straps can help you sleep better and reduce the intensity of snoring on a plane. Nasal sprays help to reduce nasal congestions and widen the airways, helping keep them moist to stop snoring. 

6. Recline the Seat:

It is best to recline your seat as it helps to keep the breathing passages open and prevents your tongue from collapsing into the throat. One of the published studies in the Journal of Transportation Research showed passengers in reclined positioned snored 20 to 30% less than those that sat upright. 

Even if these tips prove to be helpful, they may not be the best solution, especially if you snore frequently or regularly.  This may mean speaking to your physician or healthcare professional if snoring is a persistent problem.

When should You see a Doctor about Your Snoring?

Snoring can oftentimes be a sign or symptom of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea).  So, if you’ve been told about your snoring by a partner, spouse, or someone who shares an apartment or home with you, it may be time to talk to a doctor.  This is especially true if you’ve been told that your breathing repeatedly stops, for short periods and then starts again while you’re sleeping.  Here a few warning signs to consider:

• you make loud choking or gasping sounds during sleep
• you wake up frequently
• you’re exhausted or sleepy during the day

No matter what, snoring is something you don’t want to sleep on (no pun intended).  While it may seem harmless, snoring often indicates that you’re not getting the health benefits and quality of sleep you should be getting.

A Word about Asonor Anti-snoring Nasal Spray Solution

Nothing beats a good night’s sleep.  But if you’re not always getting it because of your snoring, Asonor Anti-snoring Nasal Spray Solution is one of only a few snoring relief products that does what it promises – provide the snoring relief you need.  To learn more about this amazing anti-snoring solution, visit our website or e-mail us with your questions to [email protected] today.