Did you know that about 45 percent of normal, healthy adults snore on occasion? If you didn't, you do now. Ask your sleeping partner if you are one of those people, and they will likely regale you with stories of being kept awake at night by your buzzsaw of a throat --- that is if you haven't already been on the receiving end of a few jokes.

The good news for your partner, and ultimately you, is there are ways you can ease your snoring without a trip to the doctor. Here are five ways you can put an end to the annoying noise as soon as tonight.

1. Change Positions

You are more likely to snore if you are laying on your back. Try laying on your side tonight or sleeping on your stomach. You snore because your tongue and soft palate relax toward the back of your throat. This can't happen if you are on your side or stomach.

2. Open Your Nasal Passages

If you can sleep comfortably with a Breathe Right strip on your nose, give it a try. If your nose is blocked, it can make snoring more likely to occur. Take a hot shower before you go to bed to open up your nasal passages, then apply a strip. This will keep your nasal passages open throughout the night.

3. Sleep Regularly

Most people don't know that they are more likely to snore if they allow themselves to become overly tired. When you sleep deep and hard, you may snore even when you aren't normally prone to doing so. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time. When you sleep more regularly, you are less likely to snore.

4. Stay Hydrated

When you are dehydrated, the natural secretions of your soft palate and nose become thicker and stickier. This can increase snoring. Stay hydrated throughout the day to prevent this from happening. You can also drink a cup of water before you go to bed. On average, women need about 11 cups of water per day and men need 16 cups. Keep in mind that this includes water from food.

5. Speak to Your Doctor

If you snore regularly, your doctor may want to perform a sleep study. A CPAP machine is a special mask you wear at night that helps you breathe normally. Your snoring may not be so severe that it wakes you up at night or threatens your life, but it could be indicative of something serious that needs to be diagnosed and treated properly.

When we are children, our parents are always there for us with a kiss and a bandage when we have a banged up knee. Fall off your bike and scrape your arm, a bit of antiseptic ointment does the trick. As we enter middle age, roles tend to reverse. Our parents are no longer taking care of us; we are taking care of them.

Bandages and ointments may still be staples of first aid kits, but do you need something more? If you are taking care of your senior parents, having a first aid kit on hand is essential and stocking it with the right supplies is important. Here are some things to be sure to include in your kit for seniors.

1. Scissors

You have scissors for general cutting. You may even have poultry scissors. Don't rely on these things for accidents around the house. Invest in a pair of bandage scissors and a strong pair of shears. You don't necessarily have to buy two pairs. Most first aid scissors are strong enough to cut through cloth and have a blunt side so that you don't cut anyone's skin.

2. Transparent Film Dressing

Seniors tend to have thin, skin and cutting or tearing it is easy to do. Bandages and tape may be too harsh on a senior's sensitive skin. Transparent film dressings are thin but strong enough to hold the skin together. Rather than just pulling on the edges of the skin, the dressing has adhesive that sticks to a larger surface area making it less likely to tear skin.

3. Butterfly Closures

These bandages are perfect for small cuts. They aren't as strong as stitches and don't take the place of them. They are useful, however, for seniors with skin so thin that it won't tolerate stitching.

4. Self-Adherent Bandages

These bandages are not gauze, and don't take the place of it. They will not soak up bodily fluids. What they are great for is compression and to hold non-stick dressings in place. The bandage sticks to itself, negating the need for tape.

5. Non-Stick Gauze

Non-stick gauze pads are good for wounds that are bleeding or oozing. The pads will absorb bodily fluids but not stick to the wound site. If your loved one cuts themselves, a non-stick pad wrapped with a self-adherent bandage can control the bleeding until you are able to get medical attention if necessary.

6. Paper Tape

Sometimes only tape will do when a loved one receives a cut or gash. Unfortunately, many kinds of tape can irritate the delicate skin of a senior. Paper tape is less irritating than others and should be in any first aid kit for seniors.

If you are looking for the essentials for your senior loved one’s first aid kit, we have just about everything you could need. We sell all of the products you need and can help you choose the right ones for your kit. Convenient online ordering makes it easy to put your first aid kit together today.

As we age, we tend to take more medications in order to manage various health conditions. Some of those medications may be oral, and some may be delivered via injection. If you are taking care of your adult parents, knowing what to do with your full sharps container is important.

What Are Sharps?

Sharps are injection devices. They may include lancets that are used to prick fingers to check blood glucose levels, and needles used to deliver medications like insulin.

What Type of Container Do I Use?

Sharps are never to be disposed of in the normal trash can. A needle stick can transmit disease and cause injury. Sharps should only be disposed of in marked sharps containers. These are colored plastic bins with tight-fitting lids. There will be a biohazard label affixed to the container.

Sharps containers in the United States are typically red in color and you may have been given one with your prescription of injectable medication. (Sharps containers in other countries may be blue or yellow). You can easily find replacement containers when you need them at your local pharmacy. If they aren't on the shelf, simply ask your pharmacist to provide you with one. You may also be able to find them at your local health department.

If you are unable to get a sharps container for whatever reason, it is recommended that you dispose of your needles in a container with a screw on lid. An empty bottle of detergent works well. Write "Used Sharps, Do Not Recycle" on the outside of the bottle and store it where no one has access to it.

Disposing of Sharps Containers

You can visit SafeNeedleDisposal.org to learn more about how to dispose of your filled containers appropriately. Because laws vary by state, you should ask your health care provider, pharmacist or local health department how to get rid of containers that are full. Typically, throwing out a full container with the trash is against the law.

Needle safety does not end after you've given an injection. The way that you dispose of your sharps is very important and can protect the health of people in your household as well as trash collectors and those who work at the local landfill. Never throw your used needles in the garbage, and don't toss out filled sharps containers without first checking on the legalities in your location.

If you are taking care of your aging parents and need healthcare supplies, we have you covered. We carry everything you need, including sharps containers. Visit our website and browse our online shop at your convenience. If you have any questions, reach out to our customer service team for answers. We are happy to provide you with any information we can.