What is snoring? Well, snoring can simply be described as noisy breathing through the nose and mouth during sleep. It happens when a person is inhaling and exhaling during the night and is loudest during inhalation.
Snoring happens when air doesn’t flow well through the air passages or when the muscles. The soft tissues vibrate in the air passages of the nose and throat. This commonly occurs when a person is sleeping because the muscles in the throat, tongue as well as the soft palate, relax during this period. This relaxation can lead to the tissues of the throat to sag. As a result, these sagging tissues in the throat narrow the airway and vibrate, causing the snoring sound. The narrower the airway becomes, it is more likely that the sound will become louder.
According to research, snoring affects about 45% of the population and there’s an estimated 25% of individuals who are habitual snorers. There are many reasons why people snore. We’ve outlined many of the causes of snoring below.
What is Snoring – Causes of Snoring
- Age is one of the factors considered for snoring. This is because as a person ages, their throat muscles becomes weaker. As a result, this sagging of throat muscles can lead to a narrowing of the airway and lead to snoring.
- Overweight or obese persons are some individuals who are very prone to snoring. This happens because of the fats around the throat, which weakens the throat muscles as they breathe. In some case it can cause more serious breathing problems and may lead to more serious illnesses.
- Another cause of snoring is enlarged adenoids – the spongy tissue located at the back of nose and throat, enlarged tonsils or a thick soft palate. All of these will cause the airway to narrow.
- If you have a longer uvula – the triangular part of skin that hangs from the soft palate (the little punching bag) could lessen the airflow and amplify the vibrations as you breathe.
- Another cause of snoring is nasal blockages which commonly occur due to allergies. Also, a swerved septum, a condition where the partition between the nose is curved, can also decrease the airflow in the nose. This forces you to breathe through your mouth which contains more flabby tissue.
- Alcohol and drugs can also affect the central nervous system, causing an extreme relaxation of the muscles – especially in the throat.
- Sleeping on one’s back is also a primary cause of snoring. This is because the tongue falls backwards in the throat and narrows the airway, partially blocking the flow of air.
What is snoring? A very annoying – especially to people sleeping around you – but curable sleep condition. It can be cured effectively by toning and firming your throat and tongue muscles. There are specific exercises that target these muscles which, when strengthened, will help to avoid snoring.
If you’re asking the question “what is snoring?” you may have it yourself and not know or you’re asking what snoring is because your bedmate snores. You should know that although snoring is considered minor, it can be a sign of more serious issues such as sleep apnea. If you or someone you know is a chronic snorer, you should consult your family doctor to make sure that it is not a sign of a more serious sleeping disorder.