A snorer? Read this

MANILA, Philippines - She is a seasoned movie actress who got a second crack at true love at this stage in her life. Another is a high-ranking priest academician who spends his time educating the youth about life and God. The third is an entrepreneur and wife of a top hotel executive. All of them, Boots Anson-Roa, Fr. RB and Carmela Borgers share one sleep problem. They snore. And all of them have varied experiences on how they (and their family and friends) cope with their snoring.

Boots discovered that she snored when late husband, Pete Roa chided her about it. At first, she self-deprecated and laughed at herself. “Maybe I am a quiet snorer. I’ve not yet been awakened by my own snoring.” Eventually, she would jokingly warn others who may be within hearing distance that her snoring might startle them.

“I went through no denial period. It was embarrassing but I accepted it right away. I accept myself as a snorer and apologize for whatever inconvenience it may cause others. And yes, King knows that I snore,” Boots shares. At 69, she is slated to walk the aisle and marry lawyer Francisco Rodrigo Jr. on June 14.

Fr. RB, on the other hand, discovered his snoring during an overseas trip with his family. “We were in adjoining rooms and my parents woke me up because they were really bothered by my loud snoring. That trip was pivotal; my brother with whom I shared my room decided to get his own room!” he says.

He immediately made an appointment with a sleep clinic. Diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Apnea, Fr. RB has stopped overeating and his blood pressure has since normalized. He is also using a “machine” that aids in continuous positive airway pressure.

Entrepreneur and socialite wife, Carmela Borgers’ husband would occasionally nudge her in the middle of the night because of all the snoring she was doing. Carmela says, “He would tease me about it and it reached a point when I would resent the teasing. Sometimes, my husband would grab and push me to my side to lessen the snoring. I knew it was really bad when he would transfer to another room in the house so he could get some sleep!”

Snoring is often associated with other common conditions, including obesity, nasal congestion, hypothyroidism, enlarged tonsils or adenoids. When snoring is present, it suggests that the nose or throat may be partially obstructed. This obstruction leads to difficulties moving air. As a result, the air moves turbulently through the airway and this causes the vibration and sound of snoring. Mild snoring may have little effect on the quality of sleep. However, as the airway becomes more obstructed, the effort to breathe likewise increases.

Carmela decided to take matters in her own hands and found a device that is non-invasive and effective, “I lived in Paris for a number of years and used to frequent one particular pharmaceutical — whose owner eventually became a friend. One day, she showed me this new AntiSnor ring. And of course, I bought it immediately. I didn’t tell my husband about it and he realized he was not nudging me in the night.”

Designed and invented in 1999, the AntiSnor Acupressure Ring is based on the techniques of Chinese acupressure. By wearing the ring on your left little finger (pinkie finger), pressure is applied to specific nerve points to activate the muscles, which control your upper airway patency to help reduce or prevent snoring.

Research has also indicated that the Merkel cells on the small finger react to the light pressure stimulation. The AntiSnor acupressure ring stimulates these cells, affecting muscles in the throat to help reduce or prevent snoring and promote a better night sleep. The AntiSnor acupressure ring is available in three sizes (small, medium, large) and made to be adjusted. There are two “spikes” in the ring, which press on some nerves that are connected to the muscles supporting your airways. You may bend the ring to achieve a perfect fit. Recently, the AntiSnor ring has been made available in the Philippines and can be found at Watsons stores.

Carmela says that “After using all the other available devices like nose clips and mouth covers, I was so happy to use this ring and have the snoring contained.”

Indeed, there are different strokes to save others from your snoring. You can ignore it, go to a sleep clinic or go to the nearest Watson Store and get the non-invasive, effective yet cost-efficient solution like the AntiSnor Acupressure Ring. It could be the way to keep peace in the bedroom.