Snoring and your health

Just about everyone snores occasionally. Even a baby or a beloved pet may snore! But snoring can affect the quantity and quality of your sleep. Poor sleep can lead to daytime fatigue, irritability and increased health problems. And, if your snoring is so loud that your bed partner can't sleep, you may end up banished from the bedroom.

Sleeping in separate bedrooms doesn’t have to be the remedy for your snoring. In fact, there are many effective treatments for snoring. Discovering the cause of your snoring and finding the right cure will vastly improve your health, your relationships, and, of course, your sleep.

Where does the snore sound come from?
Snoring is caused by a narrowing of your airway, either from poor sleep posture or abnormalities of the soft tissues in your throat. A narrow airway gets in the way of smooth breathing and creates the sound of snoring.

Causes out of our control
Heredity - A narrow throat, a cleft palate, enlarged adenoids and other physical attributes which contribute to snoring can be hereditary.
Being middle-aged or beyond - As you age, your throat becomes narrower, and the muscle tone in your throat decreases.
Being male - Men have narrower air passages than women and are more likely to snore.
Allergies, asthma, a cold, or sinus infections - Blocked airways make inhalation difficult and create a vacuum in the throat, leading to snoring

Causes within our control
Being overweight or out of shape - Fatty tissue and poor muscle tone contribute to snoring.
A history of smoking – Smoking (or exposure to second-hand smoke) relaxes muscles and creates nasal congestion.
Alcohol or medications - Alcohol and medications increase muscle relaxation leading to more snoring.
Sleeping posture - Sleeping flat on your back allows the flesh of your throat to relax and block the airway.