What is Snoring?

Snoring is an audible sound made in the upper airway of your throat as you sleep. The sound is made as the flow of air causes tissue in the back of your throat to vibrate.

When you are awake, the muscles in the throat hold the airway open allowing smooth and silent breathing. Snoring occurs as those muscles relax during sleep and tissue sags inward and vibrates against the back of the throat as you breathe.

Most people snore at some point in their life. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 6 out of 10 adults (59%) say they snore and two thirds of partnered adults say their partner snores. Snoring is reported to occur in 10% to 12% of children.

Medically, snoring can be one symptom of a serious sleep disorder.
Socially, snoring can lead to disruptions and tension in relationships, frequently causing bed partners to sleep separately.

Can Snoring be a serious problem?
For many people snoring is more irritating than harmful. However, snoring can also be an indicator of a serious breathing disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep.

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According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, approximately ten million Americans have undiagnosed sleep apnea. Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea and should not be ignored.

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A thorough evaluation with your physician and a sleep study can determine whether your snoring is associated with a breathing disorder or is considered primary snoring.

Primary Snoring
Primary Snoring, also known as Simple Snoring or ‘snoring without sleep apnea’, is marked by loud noisy breathing from the upper airway, during sleep. Primary snorers continue to have normal breathing during their sleep despite the noise.
Habitual snoring occurs in about 24% of woman and 40% of adult men according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Common characteristics of Primary Snoring:

Intensity of snoring varies
Snoring often causes a dry mouth or irritated throat
Common causes of Primary Snoring:

The orophyaryx (back of the throat) is smaller or more narrow than normal.
Deviated nasal septum
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
Nasal obstruction which causes mouth breathing
Jaw abnormalities or enlarged tongue
Smoking
Obesity
Nasal congestion from allergies or common cold
Alcohol consumption
Use of muscle relaxers or sedatives
Sleeping in the supine position (on your back)
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