Snoring A person's sleeping is directly related to relaxation. Normally, when a person enters deep sleep, the muscles in the body relax, including the muscles in the throat - which causes the airway to partially close, but allows air to flow freeley in and out of the body.

When the muscles relax and airflow becomes obstructed, the person begins snoring. Air comes into and out of the lungs through this airway. However, if the air flow in the throat and nose is obstructed, the air passage is narrowed and tissues rub together, which causes snoring.

On a surface level, snoring is an annoyance that your partner or other family members may complain about. Snoring can have serious health consequences. Caused by the obstruction of air movement during breathing while sleeping, severe snoring causes sleep deprivation for both the person snoring and their partner. Sleep deprivation can have various effects, including:

• Daytime sleepiness
• A compromised immune system and slower healing
• Poor mental and emotional health
• Lack of smooth functioning of the body
• Decreased productivity
• A negative mood
• Low energy
• Unclear thinking
• Slower reaction time

In addition, snoring can cause reduced oxygen flow to the brain, which can lead to:

• Premature death
• Type II diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Heart disease

Snoring can also be an indicator of sleep apnea. Click here to read more about this condition.

Common Risk Factors/Causes and What You Can Do for Snoring Being middle-aged or older Aging causes the throat to become more narrow and throat muscle tone becomes more lax. Being overweight Extra fatty tissue in the throat causes a smaller passageway for air to pass through. If you are overweight, try dropping a few pounds. Even a slight decrease in weight can help snoring. Heredity Simple heredity can cause people to have a more narrow throat Being male Men have more narrow throats than women, making them more likely to snore. Try sleeping on your side instead of your back. Lack of exercise Overall poor muscle tone can contribute to snoring. Try to get at least 30 minutes of light exercise each day. Deformities in the nasal passage Irregularities in the nasal passage can cause snoring. See your doctor to find out how you can help this issue. Drinking alcohol or taking medications that cause drowsiness Sedatives can cause a person's throat muscles to become more relaxed than normal. Avoid alcohol or medications that cause drowsiness before bed. Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke Smoking creates nasal and lung congestion for smokers and those around them. Of course, avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke will help your overall health, including snoring. Nasal decongestants can help mild cases.

Snoring Contact the SleepCenter today if you have snoring and daytime sleepiness. It is important to pinpoint serious health issues that cause or be a result of snoring.

External Links:
Snoring treatment slashes heart-attack rates
Snoring: Symptoms, Causes, Cures and Treatment