Snoring - Cures - FAQ

Snoring - Facts, Causes and Cures

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a medical site. You should always discuss medical matters with your doctor.

Snoring Facts

Snoring is a significant social problem that is rarely treated with the seriousness it deserves. It is estimated that up to one person in five snores regularly, with more men than women doing so - though of course it is the snorer's partner who usually suffers most at night. That said, some really bad snorers do wake themselves up.

Snoring varies from occasional to constant and from mild to severe. A typical snorer usually produces a noise that averages around 60 decibels (about the level of normal speech) but with some people this can reach 80 or even 90 decibels!

Although snoring is usually physically harmless it can produce problems for the snorer's partner through sleep deprivation. Snoring can also result in relationship problems.

One important fact about snoring is that it might be a sign of sleep apnea (more accurately, Obstructive Sleep Apnea - OSA). Severe sleep apnea can lead to a variety of other problems including heart disease and stroke - if you suspect you suffer from sleep apnea, see your doctor.

What Causes Snoring?

In essence snoring is caused by a blockage of the air passages whilst we sleep. If we breath through the mouth, such blockages cause vibrations in the mouth tissues that result in the snoring sound.

When we sleep, our muscles relax making blockages much easier. Some common causes of blockage include:

Medical conditions such as sinusitis or even a common cold
Excessive muscular relaxation due to alcohol or other drugs
Breathing obstructions due to smoking
Being overweight
Age - as you age, your muscles weaken
Genetic factors that affect our physical make-up
Manner of sleeping
Sleep apnea - most sleep apnea sufferers snore, not all snorers have sleep apnea

Many of the factors that influence snoring can be heriditary, hence snoring seems to run in families.

How to Stop Snoring

Are there any snoring cures that work? Yes, but the most successful are medical procedures such as the Pillar Palatal Implant System. Surgery is a last resort to be turned to only if recommended by your doctor.

There are a number of non-medical approaches to reducing snoring. On the next page I'll discuss how to stop or reduce snoring.

Sleep, Dreams, Bedroom - Sleep - Snoring

All original material Copyright © Trevor Mendham 2003-2009. See home page for contact details.
This is not a medical site. Nothing on this site constitutes personal advice. Please read the site terms of use.