Snoring is very common. It can range from a gentle buzz to the sound of a Harley Davidson revving up. While snoring can be just annoying, it may be an indication of a serious problem, obstructive sleep apnea. It's important not to dismiss loud snoring as just a minor nuisance. A large percentage of the population snores at least occasionally. According to one study, 41 percent of the men and 28 percent of the women snore all or part of the time. Snoring tends to get worse with ageWhat happens during snoring is that as you fall asleep the muscles at the back of your throat relax, the airway from your nose to your windpipe narrows, and the soft tissues along them become loose and floppy. So when you breathe, they vibrate, producing those snoring sounds. You may snore more on some occasions than others. Something as simple as the way you sleep might trigger snoring: if you tend to sleep on your back, your airway may be obstructed by your tongue falling back. As you might guess, allergies and colds, which lead to congested sinuses, are also common causes. You're also more likely to snore if you have a few drinks before going to bed, or are overweight.Is Snoring Hazardous to Your Health?About half the time, the snorer is getting a good night's sleep, and it's only a problem for someone else who's sleeping in the same bed. However, the really loud, earsplitting kind of snoring that keeps others up in the next room is usually an indicator of something more serious. Loud snoring is a key symptom of sleep apnea, a major sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed. An estimated 14 million Americans have this condition. Men are twice as likely to snore and have sleep apnea as women.Even if we're talking about garden-variety snoring and not sleep apnea, if someone in the house isn't getting enough sleep, it's an issue that should be addressed. Secondhand snoring, like secondhand smoking, is no joke. How to Stop SnoringYou may be able to stop snoring by making changes in your lifestyle. For instance, achieving a normal BMI may help. Other people have fixed their snoring problem by avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking.You may have heard about nasal strips, with brand names like Breathe Right. These sticky bands open up the nasal passages, and can help you breathe more easily if you have a stuffy nose. In some cases this may help snoring, however, there's no strong scientific evidence that they consistently help sleep apnea.If you snore when you sleep on your back, try training yourself to sleep on your side by putting a tennis ball in a sock, and sewing it to your pajamas between the shoulder blades.In some cases, a doctor may prescribe a device to keep your airway open. There are oral appliances which keep the tongue pushed forward and the mouth closed. Another device, a breathing mask that provides continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), has also been used with success. (treatment of sleep apnea)Snoring can also be caused by an anatomical abnormality that can be fixed through surgery. Occasionally, people have a deviated septum, which means that the partition down the center of their nose is crooked. Or, you may have excess tissue in the back of your mouth, like a large uvula (the part that dangles down at the very back).In any case, a doctor may be able to determine what part of your upper airway is causing the snoring sounds, whether your snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, and what would be the most appropriate treatment for you.
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