| Snoring, like all other sounds, is caused by | | | | significantly with both partners' rest. Snorers as |
| vibrations that cause particles in the air to form | | | | well as their partners, wake and get woken, and |
| sound waves. For example, when we speak, our | | | | both are subject to headaches, daytime |
| vocal chords vibrate to form our voice. Snoring | | | | sleepiness, irritability, moodiness, and broken |
| typically occurs when the soft tissue in your | | | | relationships. Snoring is believed to occur in |
| throat presses together to partially block the air | | | | anywhere from 30% of women to over 40% of |
| passage. As you breath, the air causes vibration | | | | men. It occurs during the transition from light to |
| on the soft palate against the back of the throat | | | | deep sleep, when the muscles of your tongue, |
| or base of the tongue -- and this produces the | | | | roof of the mouth and throat can relax enough to |
| sound associated with snoring. Snoring is a sign of | | | | vibrate and partially close up your airway. The |
| increased upper airway resistance, usually due to | | | | greater the vibrations, the louder the snoring. |
| a compromised upper airway during sleep. Snoring | | | | Snoring is relatively common during pregnancy, |
| and daytime sleepiness are also symptoms of | | | | although no one knows exactly how widespread it |
| obstructive sleep apnea. | | | | is. It tends to be more of a problem in the third |
| Snoring can indicate a breathing problem while | | | | trimester. Snoring is an indication that there is |
| sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs because | | | | narrowing of the air passage during sleep. Even in |
| the muscles at the back of the roof of the | | | | people who do not snore or have OSA, the upper |
| mouth relax and sag during sleep. Snoring and | | | | airway collapses during sleep. Snoring is noisy |
| OSA may also be risk factors for behavioral | | | | breathing through the open mouth during sleep. |
| problems in childhood. Children often snore due to | | | | Snoring is usually caused by conditions that |
| nose or throat problems, such as enlarged tonsils. | | | | interfere with breathing through the nose, such as |
| Snoring occurs when soft throat tissues vibrate | | | | a common cold, allergies, or enlarged adenoids. |
| during sleep. | | | | Snoring may increase with age. Snoring has a |
| Snoring can also be a symptom of sleep apnea, | | | | tendency to worsen with age. Forty-five percent |
| which is a serious medical condition. When we go | | | | of adults snore occasionally, while 25% are |
| to sleep, the muscles of the tongue, mouth and | | | | considered habitual snorers. Snoring has been |
| throat relax. Snoring can reach a point where it | | | | found to be a medical disease. As such, medical |
| essentially drives a wedge between people. | | | | treatment for snoring is now available. |
| Snoring and sleep apnea usually interfere | | | | |