If you, or someone in your home, is a snorer, you certainly aren’t alone. In fact, medical experts like lung specialist Laurence Smolley claim that nearly forty-five percent of all normal adults have a tendency to snore. Others make even more startling claims. One source argues that snoring affects fifty million households in the United States alone. That’s over one half of the households in the country.

Two thirds of adults living with partners report that their partners snore. Nearly sixty percent of all adults profess to snoring themselves, according to the National Sleep Foundation. In other words, snoring is anything but unusual. It’s more common than most people think and those who suffer from bouts of snoring should know that they are not alone in dealing with the problem.

Debunking stereotypes Many people think of snoring as a “male thing.” The stereotypical image of a problem snorer is usually a middle aged, overweight man with a tendency toward over-eating or drinking. It’s true that male physiology encourages snoring to some extent. It’s also true that dietary habits, the intake of alcohol and excessive weight can play a role in snoring. However, dismissing snoring as a uniquely male proposition is incorrect.

Anyone can be a snorer. Infants and children are often known to “saw a log” during their slumber and many are diagnosed with sleep disorders including sleep apnea. Women are less likely to be problem snorers than men, but as they age the likelihood of snoring increases considerably.

Age matters Physiological changes explain why women tend to snore more as they age. Post-menopausal hormone shifts and changes in body fat
distribution leave nearly forty percent of women over age sixty with a snoring habit. The age factor, however, isn’t unique to the fairer sex. A 1997 British Medical Journal study reports that that the percentage of snorers increases by approximately ten percent between the ages of thirty and forty. As we age, we are simply more likely to snore.

The physiology of snoring Snoring may be common, but it isn’t normal. It is symptomatic of a problem and should be taken seriously. Snoring can be defined as the noise produced when an individual breathes during his or her sleep. This breathing (particularly the process of inhalation) creates a vibration in the soft palate and uvula. Those vibrations create a sound as the tissues contact one another in the back of the throat and in the nose.

The uvula (the hanging entity in the back of your throat) and the soft palate (the soft spot on the roof of your mouth) aren’t the only body parts involved in snoring, though. Your adenoids and tonsils may also be involved in the noisemaking activity. That’s one reason why many non-snorers are known to create a racket when they are sick or congested. But we don’t snore in the afternoon So, why do we snore while sleeping but don’t saw logs during the day?

It’s because of relaxation. When you sleep, your body relaxes deeply. Even your internal body parts take a break. Your throat muscles relax and when that happens, your airway closes partially. That might sound eerie, but it’s perfectly normal. However, if you add an obstruction of some sort to that natural closing of the airway, snoring can result. The physiology of snoring isn’t that complicated, but understanding that your hanging uvula and soft palate are vibrating on top of a partially constricted airway doesn’t really explain why you might be snoring in the first place. There are a variety of potential snoring causes. Consider a few of them:

. You may have a naturally narrow throat. When you relax the natural closing of the airway may encourage snoring. This genetic cause of snoring probably isn’t the most common explanation for a loud evening, but it may be part of the story.
. Carrying extra weight or fat in the neck can also cause a more restricted airway. That will, obviously, encourage snoring.
. Age naturally creates a narrowing of air passages, which makes snoring more likely. This is why many women who have slept silently for decades suddenly find themselves snoring after menopause.
. Smoking is a potential cause of snoring. When you smoke, muscles relax. We’ve discussed the role that can play in the process. Additionally, inhalation of smoke creates lung and nasal congestion, which will also spur snoring. Many studies indicate that second-hand smoke exposure can also turn otherwise silent sleepers into snorers.
. Irregularities with the nasal passageways may cause labored breathing and snoring. This may be a genetic situation or it may be caused by a facial trauma of some sort.
. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids may create airway obstructions that lead to more vibrations and, thus, more snoring. This can happen in cases of infection (such as tonsillitis) or when a person simply has adenoids or tonsils that are larger than average.
. Those with long soft palates or extended uvulas are far more likely to suffer from snoring than are others.
. Consumption of alcohol can cause snoring, as can some types of medication. Again, the culprit is over-relaxation which leads to additional airway closure.

Sleep position can also play a role in snoring. When you sleep on your back, your throat’s flesh may relax and block your airway more than when on your stomach or side. Propping your head up on pillows may also create an angle that will contribute to blocking your airways, encouraging snoring.

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