Snoring In The Armed Forces
When we think of the men and women in the military we don’t often think about them have sleeping problems.
Do you ever wonder what it would be like in a barracks full of sleeping soldiers when one or more of them are snoring away?
Well, the Canadian army decided to do a mini study to determine what the cause might be and if there were more or less snorers in the armed forces. Few snorers were taken as a test group to see what if anything could be learned from a comparison of military and non-military snorers.
The results of the study were not very surprising at all. Basically the test group of military versus civilians came back with almost identical data. Military snorers are just as likely to have a sleep breathing disorder. The unexpected statistics were that many of the military snores were overweight.
This was found in both the American and Canadian armed forces. How can that happen in a place were exercise was a part of each and every day? How can that be allowed to happen when being able of defending themselves and their country must depend so heavily on being fit?
In answer both the American and Canadian armed forces have begun programs designed particularly to put into practice weight loss by an improved diet, while educating their people on better exercise regimes as well as behavior modification to encourage improved health.
After the studies were finished answers to the snoring problems had to be looked for as well. To begin with some of the worst sufferers were given a CPAP system. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure and is used at night with a mask over the face.
The airways are kept open and there is little nighttime snoring by using this device. As a matter of fact this device can eliminate a snoring problem totally. Active American Naval personnel have used CPAP with great success.
But the problem is how can it be used in the field? Members of the armed forces who tried CPAP include pilots, firefighters, air traffic controllers, engineers, and drivers. For those in the field carrying a CPAP system with them is not practical and so other devices must be tried.
It seems that it makes more sense to help the snoring troops than to dismiss them. A member of the armed forces who can use nasal strips or some other device will become a grateful player who is better capable to do their job because of the better night’s sleep they are getting.
Besides the rest of the barracks will appreciate the quiet as well. Snoring is not just a problem of North American troops. Recently the Chinese army has decided that they will no longer allow students who snore to join military schools.
At the same time as banning tattooed students for ruining the military image they are saying that students who snore habitually disturb the collective life and they simply won’t permit that.
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