Snoring occurs when air moving through the mouth causes the soft palate (the tissue in the roof of the mouth near the throat) to vibrate. This happens without vibration in normal conditions. But sometimes fatty tissue or swollen tonsils or adenoids make the air pathways become narrow,
The passing air then meets turbulence. This produces the vibration or snoring.
No one knows of a single cause of snoring. But several things seem to make it worse or more common. These include increases in weight, the use of
alcohol or other sedatives before bedtime, chronic nasal congestion and enlarged tonsils or adenoids. A serious condition called sleep apnea can
also cause snoring. This makes a person wake up because it interrupts one's breathing. Sleep apnea requires a different treatment than does
snoring
How can you stop It?
Because we don't know of a single cause of snoring, we don't have a good cure for it. Some things may help, though. If weight or alcohol or sedative
use is contributing to the snoring, the snorer can lose weight or cut out the alcohol or sedative. Sleeping on one's side instead of the back may help,
too
device can be placed in the mouth that makes the jaw come farther forward. Laser and other types of surgery can remove the uvula, the piece
of tissue that hangs down in the back of the mouth. Also, a procedure using high-frequency radio waves will shrink surrounding tissue. Makers of
sprays claim their product will lubricate the uvula and stop the blockage that causes snoring. But there is no scientific proof that such treatments are
effective
In fact, all of these devices or procedures have unpredictable results. Often, they only help the Snorer for a short time. Snoring comes back in many
cases.
Select the correct answer.
Read the title and headings of the passage. Click on the best question to ask before reading the rest of the passage.
Have humans always snored?
Is snoring bad for the people who hear it?
How do treatments for snoring work?
What percentage of people snore?