What Causes Snoring
February2nd,2010Snoring is very common and is an involuntary action on the behalf of the snorer. Almost half of all adults snore occasionally and around one quarter of adults snore frequently. Children may also be the victims of snoring. Although males and females alike can experience snoring, it is more common in males and overweight persons. Additionally, snoring usually grows worse as the snorer gets older.
So what exactly causes the snoring? Snoring is caused when the flow of air in the nasal passages and mouth are blocked or obstructed. Snoring usually occurs right before a person enters deep sleep. At this phase, the muscles in the throat, tongue and soft palate relax. If they relax enough, they block the airway and vibrate together, causing the snoring sound that we all know. Louder snoring occurs when the air passages are narrower, which causes the tissues to vibrate together more and the passage of air to become more vigorous, in turn resulting in louder snoring.
Many factors can bring about snoring,including the anatomy of the snorer’s mouth, alcohol consumption, problems with the nasal passages, or a condition called sleep apnea. The anatomy of a person’s mouth can contribute to a snoring problem due to the size of the tonsils, soft palate and tissues in the back of the throat. If any of these body parts are larger than normal, then they can narrow the air passages even more.
Alcohol can be like a sedative and relax the throat muscles, causing snoring. Thus, heavy alcohol consumption should be avoided before bedtime. Snoring may also be caused by problems with the nasal passages, such as congestion, which blocks the airways.
Snoring may also be caused by a medical condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is more than just a form of snoring. With sleep apnea, the throat tissues block the air passages, preventing a person from breathing. Eventually the person wakes up with a start due to lack of air. This condition may continue throughout the night.
While there are many causes to snoring, there are many tips to stop snoring.Get more information on snoring and some effective stop snoring tips,which in turn will lead to a more restful sleep