Why do we snore?

Snoring arises when breathing is obstructed. This can be caused by a cold or an anatomical irregularity in the nose or throat.
However, the most common cause of snoring is, that the muscles in and around the throat relax too much when we are asleep. This means that the opening in the throat becomes narrow, and air has difficulty in passing. As one requires the same amount of air to the lungs, the air intake speed increases. Pressure in the throat increases, and the uvula and soft palate begin to vibrate. The noise produced by these vibrations is called snoring.
Therefore, snoring is a sign of troubled breathing during sleep. The louder the snoring sound, the narrower the opening in the throat.

 

 

Is snoring common?

Yes! Snoring is a common phenomenon which has existed for as long as people have slept. Calculations concerning the frequency of snoring show, it is so common, that there is a snorer in nearly every second home. Men are more frequent snorers than women. This difference is equalized during the years.

 

Snoring can disturb a good nights sleep!

When you snore, your breathing becomes irregular. When sleeping this can cause a pause in breathing. These pauses can last up till 10 seconds and can be repeated many times during the night. You may not yourself notice these pauses – but your sleep has been disturbed. This means that your body does not get the rest it needs. The result is that you are tired when you wake up, which is not good for your health.
Research shows that snorers have an increased risk of suffering from various illnesses such as high blood pressure, coronary and brain haemorrhage.