Everybody is familiar with what snoring is and how it generally sounds like. It is basically a rough sound caused by breathing through the nose in a certain manner. It then causes a vibration of the soft palate. The sound created is caused by the irregular passage of air at places in the mouth where there may be partial blockage of breathing. The sound of snoring may vary from soft to loud, but is usually irritating to anyone kept awake because of it.

For most people, snoring is not a big problem. In fact, most people snore occasionally. People usually think males snore more than females do, but it can happen to anyone. Young, old, male, female… Literally anybody could snore at night and not be aware of it. Men and people who are overweight tend to snore more often though. In children, and other people, adenoids may cause snoring as well.

Snoring may be caused by other factors. While sleeping, a partial relaxation of the muscles that hold the vocal cords can happen, so they end up going close together and obstruct air passage.

Snoring could also happen in deep sleep (or even when unconscious), when a person is lying on his back. Sometimes, the tongue may fall back and partially closes the opening where air passes. This is the same cause of “stertor,” or the noisy breathing that usually happens during apoplexy and concussions.

Mucus accumulation is another reason for snoring. Sometimes, it may collect in the nose or in the passages behind the nose, most likely because of an inflammation or irritation. It could also happen if the muscles of the throat and nose are abnormally tense, they can also interfere with air passing out. If the nose is blocked and the lips are very tight together, a whistling sound comes out as the air passes through.

Snoring is not that big of a deal. It seldom disturbs the person who snores. However, it can, as previously mentioned, annoy whoever else is awake. Often, the snorer will stop if he has changed sleeping positions.

Is sinusitis causing a negative impact on your life? Get help from an ENT to improve your life’s quality. Also published at Why Do You Snore? Here Are Some Reasons.