Snoring - Your Snoring Could Be Keeping More Than Just Your Spouse Awake
Snoring is a common problem and can affect just about anybody.
Men with this problem seem to outnumber women by a small margin.
Heavier people also are more inclined to be affected.
Some people snore almost every night while others only snore occasionally.
Twenty-five percent of adults snore regularly while 45% snore occasionally, and it usually gets worse with age.
Snoring is caused when a person's air passage is constricted.
It may be partially blocked due to a cold or just nasal congestion, or because there is a lot of fatty tissue in the way which constricts the opening.
The passage of air through the narrow space causes soft tissue in the throat to vibrate making the snoring sound.
A primary culprit is called the uvula.
This is a soft piece of tissue that hangs down from the top of the throat near the back.
You should be able to see it simply by looking in a mirror.
However, any soft tissue on the roof of your mouth or in your throat can create the noise.
Also children who have not had their tonsils or adenoids removed may be inclined to snore.
People who snore occasionally usually do not have a major problem.
Their life is little different from someone who does not snore at all.
But this does not necessarily help their partner who may be disturbed to a greater degree.
Those who snore regularly may not only disturb a partner, but also their own sleep patterns by interrupting their own sleep cycle.
They tend to wake up feeling tired even though they think they slept well through the night.
They may require a doctor's help.
Other health problems can be a result of having a serious snoring problem.
Sleep apnea is commonly associated with snoring.
Apnea is when your normal breathing is interrupted and it just stops for a short period during which there is no longer a normal flow of fresh air into the lungs and an internal buildup of carbon dioxide in the lungs and then in the bloodstream begins.
Fortunately this is rarely a serious problem as the body then begins to breathe again on its own.
These instances of a breath being missed are only clinically significant when they reach five or more episodes per hour.
If apnea is more than five episodes per hour, the heart has to work harder which also causes a rise in blood pressure.
If the apnea is serious it could happen several hundred times a night.
Also, long interruptions of breathing of more than 10 seconds can be dangerous.
These instances could be serious and require medical intervention.
This level can result in poor sleep which then affects the person's quality of life.
Snoring alone can cause someone to wake frequently from sleep.
Men with this problem seem to outnumber women by a small margin.
Heavier people also are more inclined to be affected.
Some people snore almost every night while others only snore occasionally.
Twenty-five percent of adults snore regularly while 45% snore occasionally, and it usually gets worse with age.
Snoring is caused when a person's air passage is constricted.
It may be partially blocked due to a cold or just nasal congestion, or because there is a lot of fatty tissue in the way which constricts the opening.
The passage of air through the narrow space causes soft tissue in the throat to vibrate making the snoring sound.
A primary culprit is called the uvula.
This is a soft piece of tissue that hangs down from the top of the throat near the back.
You should be able to see it simply by looking in a mirror.
However, any soft tissue on the roof of your mouth or in your throat can create the noise.
Also children who have not had their tonsils or adenoids removed may be inclined to snore.
People who snore occasionally usually do not have a major problem.
Their life is little different from someone who does not snore at all.
But this does not necessarily help their partner who may be disturbed to a greater degree.
Those who snore regularly may not only disturb a partner, but also their own sleep patterns by interrupting their own sleep cycle.
They tend to wake up feeling tired even though they think they slept well through the night.
They may require a doctor's help.
Other health problems can be a result of having a serious snoring problem.
Sleep apnea is commonly associated with snoring.
Apnea is when your normal breathing is interrupted and it just stops for a short period during which there is no longer a normal flow of fresh air into the lungs and an internal buildup of carbon dioxide in the lungs and then in the bloodstream begins.
Fortunately this is rarely a serious problem as the body then begins to breathe again on its own.
These instances of a breath being missed are only clinically significant when they reach five or more episodes per hour.
If apnea is more than five episodes per hour, the heart has to work harder which also causes a rise in blood pressure.
If the apnea is serious it could happen several hundred times a night.
Also, long interruptions of breathing of more than 10 seconds can be dangerous.
These instances could be serious and require medical intervention.
This level can result in poor sleep which then affects the person's quality of life.
Snoring alone can cause someone to wake frequently from sleep.