What is Snoring?
What is Snoring?
Snoring is the coarse sound made by vibrations of the soft palate and other tissue in the mouth, nose & throat (upper airway). It is caused by turbulence inside the airway during inspiration. The turbulence is caused by a partial blockage that may be located anywhere from the tip of the nose to the vocal chords. Snoring can originate from the nose, oropharynx or the base of the tongue.
Why do we snore only when sleeping?
It's most common when we sleep as our throat muscles relax and this can cause airways to narrow. This is because our muscle tone is reduced during sleep and there may be insufficient muscle tone to prevent the airway tissue vibrating. During waking hours muscle tone keeps the airway in good shape.
How to "stop" snoring?
Snoring is something that cannot be stopped at will, neither is it something that can be 'cured'. It can however, be successfully controlled. Snoring is caused by a physical abnormality that needs to be identified before a control can be found, we can break the cause down to different "types" of snoring.
Types of Snoring
The type is based on where your snoring originates, this can be multiple areas:
- Tongue
- Nose
- Mouth
- Multifactorial
If you're not sure take our online test to find out what type of snorer you are and what treatments could help control your snoring.
Common Causes of Snoring
Some people only snore at specific times of year or after a particular food. Snoring can be affected by the following factors which you might be able to control:
- Alcohol
- Sleeping medication
- Smoking
- Allergies and Hayfever
- Being overweight or out of shape
- Sleeping position
- Nasal problems e.g. deviated septum
For more information on how to work on these to stop snoring click on our plan below