All About Snoring
SNORING FAQ:
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring occurs during the night·when the muscles in the throat relax, allowing the soft tissues to vibrate against the back of the airway. Think of it like a flute. You blow air through a narrow space, making the reed vibrate to create the sound. This is the same with a person who snores. The air has to pass through a narrow space, a blocked upper airway, making the tissue at the back of the throat vibrate and creates a sound. This narrowing can be caused by natural factors, such as poor muscle tone in the throat, the shape of the airway, or genetics.
Snoring is annoying, but can also signify potentially serious health conditions such as respiratory disorders and sleep apnea.
What's the difference between Snoring & Sleep Apnea?
How does snoring effect your overall health and relationships?
How do oral devices work to cure snoring?
How is the mouth involved in snoring?
What are Secondary Causes of Snoring?
• Obesity: Fat can narrow the airway
• Anti-depressants or·allergy medication
• Alcohol: Drinking depresses the part of the brain that regulates breathing, which can allow the tongue and throat muscles to
relax too much and block the airway.
What factors increase the risk of snoring?
• Men are more likely to snore than women.
• Snoring is more common in middle- aged people. The chance of snoring increases until 50 or 60 years,
then begins to decrease again.
• While snoring can be heditary and run in a family, certain physical factors that contribute to snoring can be genetic.
• Weight gain and obesity can also increase the liklihood of snoring.
• Smoking, nicotine, and use of alcohol and sedatives
• Chronic nasal congestion during sleep, usually caused by colds or allergies
• Jaw abnormalities – the shape of the jaw may create a higher risk of snoring
