- Can Anti-Snoring Claims Be Cause for
Alarm?
Remember the adage, "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Snore and
you sleep alone"?
For chronic snorers and anyone who has to listen to them, anti-snoring
products can sound like a dream come true. But before you start catching zzzz's, consider
this: Ads for some of these products are making unsubstantiated claims that the products
can cure or treat the symptoms of sleep apnea, a serious, potentially life-threatening
disorder. The Federal Trade Commission is concerned that these misleading claims may keep
some snorers from getting the medical treatment they need.
Sleep apnea affects at least 12 million Americans of all ages, according
to the American Sleep Apnea Association. It causes brief interruptions of breathing during
sleep when a blockage in the upper airway restricts air flow. Sleep experts advise chronic
snorers or people who think they may have sleep apnea to see their physician or a sleep
specialist.
The FTC warns consumers to be suspicious of anti-snoring product claims
that:
refer to snoring as a medical condition;
infer that the product can treat or cure symptoms of sleep apnea, like
daytime tiredness, headaches, lack of concentration, interruptions in breathing, and
partial awakenings; and
refer to the mechanics of sleep apnea; for example, how a restricted
airway causes a person to awaken to take a breath.
The FTC works for the consumer to
prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and
avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get free information
on consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or
call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related
complaints into
Consumer Sentinel, a
secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law
enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
|
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION |
FOR THE CONSUMER |
1-877-FTC-HELP |
www.ftc.gov |
|
March 2001 |