Snoring is the noise of the soft
palate and the loose tissue in the mouth, nose and
throat, like the uvula, adenoids and/or tonsils,
vibrating during sleep. It generally occurs when you
sleep on your back and during the inhaling process.
As the throat muscles lose their
firmness due to age, and relax during sleep, the loose
hanging soft tissues cause the air passages to narrow.
The obstructing elements in the throat touch one
another, causing friction and subsequent vibration. The
faster the force of air and the narrower the air
passage, the louder and more resonant the snore becomes.
Snoring is very common,
affecting up to 60% of males, mostly middle aged, and
40% of females, and is three times more common in obese
persons. The latter is considered to be due to an excess
amount of fat in the neck.
The reason that men are mostly
affected may be related to the fact that they have an
Adam's apple; an extra appendage to obstruct their air
ducts. Although women also have this thyroid cartilage,
the testosterone influx during puberty causes it to grow
much more prominent in men. As their waking voice is
more sonorous than women's, so is their snoring.
Women, on the other hand,
produce the hormone progesterone, which inhibits
snoring, and consequently are less likely to snore. Some
anti-snoring devices are known to use progesterone as
their basic ingredient.
Even babies can display a mild
form of snoring. This should be carefully monitored,
however, as it may be a sign of obstruction in the
baby's respiratory tract.
Occasional snoring in all
genders and ages is more likely during a bout of cold,
sinusitis or some other reason for a stuffy nose. The
degree of snoring ranges from an annoyance to the
partner to indicating obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea refers to the
condition of repeated short interruptions of breathing
between snores. It can be dangerous for both adults and
children in case of severe, prolonged sleep and oxygen
deprivation.
Snoring cannot be stopped at
will, and there is not one simple cure for it. First the
physical abnormality causing it needs to be identified
before a control can be found. It is most often more
disruptive to other people's sleep than the person
responsible!
What Can You Do About It Now?
The use of antihistamines
and/or allergy medications to unclog the nasal cavities
affected by allergic reactions to pollen, pets or
medications.
Treat your cold or flu with whatever remedy helps to
keep the nasal passages as clear as possible during
sleep.
Reduce your alcohol consumption as alcohol causes the
throat muscles to relax.
Surgery may be required in the case of adenoids,
tonsils, thyroid and other growths.
Restrict the use of nasal sprays and/or perfumes which
may irritate the air passages.
Reduce or stop smoking as tobacco smoke causes
inflammation in the air passages.
Consult your doctor about sedatives and/or medications
that relax your muscles.
Lifestyle changes may be in order if obesity is the
culprit of your snoring.
Ann is the author
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