Why people snore
Snoring is the loud or harsh sound that can occur as you sleep. You snore when the flow of air as you breathe makes the tissues in the back of your throat vibrate. The sound most often occurs as you breathe in and can come out through the nose, mouth or a combination of the two. It can occur during any stage of sleep.
About half of all people snore at some point in their lives. Snoring is more common in men, though many women snore. It appears to run in families and becomes more common as you get older and fatter.
Sleeping on your back may make you more likely to snore. It may also occur as your throat muscles relax from use of alcohol or other depressants. Congestion from a cold or allergies can also cause you to snore.
Consequences of snoring
Snoring can be a nuisance to your partner and annoying to others.
It can be very embarrassing during travel and holidays.
Light snoring may not disrupt your overall sleep quality. Heavy snoring may be associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea- a serious sleep disorder and a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and many other health problems.
Normal breathing
Restricted breathing-snoring
