Why People Snore

Why people snore has been asked by countless people for many years, to such an extent that there are in excess of three hundred registered devices to help prevent and reduce snoring in the U.S patent and Trademark Office.

It is known that men snore more than women and those who are overweight have a tendency to snore more, as do people who lay on their back to sleep. There are approximately twenty percent of people in the United States who snore, which not only effects their sleep patterns but also disrupts the sleep of the bed partners.

Snoring noises are caused by vibrations of air passing over the soft tissue at the back of the throat. When a person has excess tissue on their palate, tonsils and uvula they can flap against each other during breathing which produces the sounds associated with snoring.

People also snore if there is an obstruction blocking the airways to the back of the throat. Nose polyps may also cause a person to snore as they can block the air flow through the nose.

Overweight people who have large necks also have a tendency to snore as the extra amount of fat causes an obstructed airway as the tongue falls to the back of the throat during sleep.

Malformations in the lower jaw may also cause a person to snore. Snoring for these people can often be prevented by surgical operations to correct the malformation of the jaw and re-align it with the upper jaw.

Why do people snore if they drink excessive amounts of alcohol? The main reason is that alcohol causes the throat muscles to relax as well as the tongue, which drops to the back of the throat and causes an obstructed airway, the air passing over the back of the tongue causes it to vibrate and the familiar noises of snoring are produced.

A change of life style may also help to reduce snoring. Eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise will help lose any excess weight and simple measures like sleeping on the stomach or using a sleep pillow to slightly raise the head may also reduce the snoring.

People who have a partner who snore may be fed up with asking why people snore? Well if all else fails there are always ear plugs!