WHY do PEOPLE SNORE?

Question by *NANCY*: WHY do PEOPLE SNORE? what causes people to snore?

Best answer:

Answer by Max_Gio
During deep sleep, the muscles in the body relax, and as the muscles in the throat relax, the airway partly closes. This is normal. Air comes into and out of the lungs through this airway. However, if the air flow in the throat and nose is obstructed, the air passage is narrowed, which causes snoring. Snoring is the fluttering sound created by the vibrations of tissues against each other in the back of the throat and nose. The tissues obstructing the airway and vibrating against each other can be the soft palate, the throat, the uvula, the tonsils, or the adenoids. (The soft palate is the soft part of the roof of the mouth.) ~Heredity - You can inherit a narrow throat, which can cause snoring. ~Being overweight - Excess weight and fatty tissue in the neck cause your throat to become smaller. ~Being middle-aged or beyond - As you age, your throat becomes narrower, and the muscle tone in your throat decreases. ~Being male - Men have narrower air passages than do women and are more likely to snore. ~A history of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke - Smoking relaxes muscles and also creates nasal and lung congestion. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause the same snoring problems as smoking does. ~Lack of fitness - Poor muscle tone and lax muscles contribute to snoring. ~Nasal deformities, such as a deviated septum - Nasal irregularities can cause obstructed breathing. ~Enlarged adenoids or tonsils - Larger than usual adenoids or tonsils can cause obstruction of the airway and additional vibration during breathing. ~A long soft-palate or uvula - A long soft palate or uvula dangles in the throat and can cause fluttery noises during relaxed breathing. ~Alcohol or medications (sleeping pills or antihistamines) - Alcohol and certain medications increase relaxation of throat and tongue muscles, which makes snoring more likely. ~Allergies, asthma, a cold, or sinus infections - Such breathing problems cause blockage in your nasal airways and make inhalation difficult. This in turn creates a vacuum in your throat, and noisy breathing. ~Sleeping on your back - Sleeping flat on your back allows the flesh of your throat to relax and block the airway. Moderate snorers tend to snore only when sleeping on their backs. ~Sleeping on overly soft pillows - Pillows increase the angle of your neck and can contribute to obstruction of your airway, which causes snoring.

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