Snoring occurs when the flow of air causes tissues in the airway to vibrate, creating the familiar rattling sound. Nasal strips are a popular, non-invasive, over-the-counter remedy designed to increase airflow and potentially reduce this vibration. The effectiveness of these strips depends entirely on the specific location of the obstruction causing the snoring.
How Nasal Strips Work to Open Airways
Nasal strips are external nasal dilators that use a simple mechanical action to increase the space within the nasal passages. They consist of flexible plastic bands embedded in an adhesive backing. When applied across the bridge of the nose, the strips attempt to straighten, creating tension that gently pulls the sides of the nose outward. This action primarily affects the nasal valve, the narrowest point in the airway. By widening this area, the strips reduce air resistance and allow more air to flow through the nasal cavity easily.
Determining Effectiveness Based on Snoring Type
The success of a nasal strip is limited to obstructions occurring in the nose itself. Snoring can be categorized by the primary site of airway vibration, which is typically the nose, the soft palate and uvula, or the base of the tongue. Nasal strips are effective only for “nasal snorers,” where the sound is generated by a partial blockage due to congestion, a narrow nasal valve, or minor structural issues like a deviated septum. In these cases, the strip’s action of mechanically opening the nostrils can reduce the air velocity, minimizing the tissue vibration that causes the noise.
The most common source of snoring, however, is the soft palate and uvula, which vibrate when the muscles relax during deep sleep. This is often called “palate snoring” or “throat snoring,” and it occurs much lower in the airway than the nasal strip can influence. Because the obstruction is occurring in the pharynx, opening the nasal passages has little to no impact on the primary source of the sound.
Scientific consensus suggests that while nasal strips improve nasal airflow, they often fail to eliminate snoring originating lower in the pharynx. For those whose snoring is caused by the tongue base collapsing toward the back of the throat, the strips offer no structural support and therefore no relief. They may make nasal breathing easier, but they cannot prevent the collapse of soft tissues in the throat, which is the root cause for most habitual snorers.
When Snoring Requires Medical Evaluation
Over-the-counter solutions like nasal strips are not treatments for underlying medical conditions. Snoring accompanied by other specific symptoms can be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a serious disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Nasal strips should not be used as a primary treatment for OSA as they can mask symptoms without addressing the core issue of airway collapse.
Red flags that indicate a need for professional medical evaluation include loud snoring punctuated by observed pauses in breathing, or gasping and choking sounds during sleep. Additional symptoms include:
- Excessive daytime fatigue.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Morning headaches.
- High blood pressure.
An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or a sleep physician can perform an examination and order a sleep study to diagnose OSA. Untreated OSA carries health risks, including an increased risk of stroke and heart disease.