“You always seem to make quite the racket in your sleep,” my dear wife says as we get ready for bed. “That’s why I need these.”

On her side, she has a heavy-duty earplug that fits snugly in her ears. On my side, I apply a magnetic strip on the bridge of my nose to see if it helps with the noise levels. Apparently, I’m a snorer (or so she tells me).

The reason I’m using a magnet on my face is to hopefully tackle this issue and improve her sleep. The strip is called Iro, and it costs £60. It’s a curved piece of hard plastic with magnets at both ends.

These magnets adhere to small magnets that attach to either side of my nose, just above it. The magnets gently lift my nostrils as they snap together. It’s an odd sensation, but not unpleasant. It almost feels like my airways are being mechanically eased open for better airflow.

The issue is right beneath your nose

So, why do I need such a device? One of the intriguing physical quirks I’ve discovered is that I have a deviated septum. This is likely why my wife depends on costly earplugs to get her beauty sleep.

A deviated septum (which about 70% of people have) is linked to snoring, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and a compromised sense of smell.

I can feel it when I press on my nose (for the sake of science, of course). My left nostril is significantly more open than my right. The tissue separating them (the aforementioned deviated septum) doesn’t run straight down the middle but instead leans to one side.

This misaligned wall made of bone and cartilage is why I snore and breathe through my mouth. A deviated septum hampers my airways; thus, I often feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen when I breathe through my nose.

I dislike running because my breathing feels more labored than it should. While sleeping, I end up gulping erratic breaths, similar to snoring.

If that wasn’t enough, I also suffer from occasional night terrors, or sleep paralysis, which leaves me waking up feeling unable to move or breathe.

“Patients with a deviated septum can face numerous challenges,” says Professor Peter Andrews, Chairman of the British Nose Association. “They often resort to breathing through their mouths, which can negatively impact lung function.”

Andrews emphasizes the importance of breathing through the nose. “The nose acts as an air condenser designed to filter and condition air, making it better for oxygen exchange once it reaches the lungs. When your nose is blocked, efficient breathing becomes compromised.”

However, when your nasal passages are open, that’s not an issue. “If you can breathe through your nose at night, you shouldn’t, in theory, snore,” Andrews explains. Iro claims it enhances both breathing and sleep.

The company asserts it reduces snoring “in real-time,” doubles nasal airflow, and grants an additional hour of sleep each night.

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Is breathing easy?

The first night wearing the Iro strip went remarkably well. Despite being attached to my face, it didn’t bother me or disrupt my sleep. It was quite comfortable. The next morning, my wife was astonished that she didn’t have to use earplugs for this test.

“I didn’t hear a sound from you,” she remarked.

The next night was a different story. I had night terrors right after falling asleep, and the following morning, my wife’s brow furrowed. “Last night didn’t go well at all,” she told me. “Not one bit.”

For better or worse, I didn’t notice any significant changes in sleep quality. When I checked the data from my Apple Watch, it confirmed that my overall sleep duration remained unchanged. I was averaging just under 6 hours a night with or without the Airo Strips.

No wonder I feel tired.

Interestingly, the watch tracked various stages of my sleep.

While the Apple Watch isn’t a clinical-quality sleep tracker, I noticed minimal variations in overall sleep duration. However, I found that I received over 30 minutes of REM sleep and about 20 minutes of deep sleep while wearing the Airo. It also seemed to shorten the instances of waking up throughout the night.

During the day, I tried them out at the gym while running. They remained comfortable, and I felt a difference in my airflow. I couldn’t tell if it improved my workout, though.

As I ran, the adhesive began to slip as I started to sweat, and the Airo shifted along the bridge of my nose.

Eventually, I had to remove it before it fell off, but before that, I felt I could breathe more freely.

“The nasal strip definitely contributes to opening the airways,” notes Andrews. Airo’s magnetic strips come in one design. Adhesive strips placed on the nose serve a similar purpose, but other aids are designed to fit inside the nostrils, effectively opening the airways. Research indicates they may help diminish snoring, but overall sleep improvement results are varied.

My wife may not be a sleep expert, but she is open to longer trials, even with mixed results.

Case study

subject: 43-year-old man, snoring treatment

Abstract: Can magnetic nasal strips enhance sleep quality and alleviate night terrors?

test: Quantitative sleep data monitored on my Apple Watch; qualitative sleep data recorded by my spouse.

result: No change in total sleep duration, but improvements in REM and deep sleep. Mixed results on subjective sleep satisfaction.

About our experts

Professor Peter Andrews serves as the chairman of the British Rhinology Society at University College London, UK, and is a professor of reform at the University of London. He has contributed to esteemed journals like Facial Plastic Surgery, Diagnosis, and OTO RHINO European Archives of Laryngology.

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