Snoring is the sound resulting from the vibrations of the relaxed tissues in the throat as the air inhaled rushes past them. About half of the population do it sometime in life. Chances are more with age. There are many factors contributing to snoring like body weight, general health, shape of the mouth/nose.

How would one know?

If you sleep alone it is possible you may never know. if you have a partner and you snore loudly enough to wake her/him then you have probably already been told. If you don’t believe or want to make sure just turn on a recording device before you sleep

Congested Nose

If your nose is stuffy, or you are unable to breathe thru nose, as what happens with a flu or a cold, then you may snore. Decongestants, some are OTC, may help but it is better to talk to your doctor.

Sleeping on the back

This can cause snoring or make it louder. sleeping on the side is better. You may raise your head from flat position by stacking more pillows. tilting your head backwards will open the airway more and may help.

Nose Shape

One of the common causes of snoring is the deviated nasal septum. It makes breathing difficult and causes snoring. Talk to your doctor because this can be fixed by surgery.

Mouth Shape

If the soft palate is low and thick, it can narrow the airway causing snoring. same happens if the uvula is longer than usual. These can be inborn, but can get worse with overweight. sometimes surgery is needed to repair them.

Medications

Some medications relax muscles including throat and tongue muscles and this can lead to snoring. These include sleep pills, antidepressants, and muscle relaxants. Meds can contribute to weight gain and thus snoring. Talk to your doctor for issues like these.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious condition. It can result in heart diseases and respiratory hypertension. in this condition a person repeatedly stops breathing for brief periods during sleep. Signs include dry mouth , headache , sore throat , and drowsiness during the day. It is linked to stroke, hypertension,and heart disease. Talk to your doctor if you think this the case. It can be fixed by specific device or by surgery.

Does Child Snore?

Kids can snore from time to time, particularly when they have some cold, allergy or some upper respiratory tract infection. If you think it is excessive, talk to the pediatrician.

Pregnant Women

Snoring is more likely in pregnancy because the nasal passages swell and make harder to breathe.Weight gain during pregnancy also contributes. The diaphragm is pushed up also. But because snoring can be linked to high blood pressure pregnant women should tell their doctors if they snore.

What You Can Do

Watch your weight : it can help a lot.

Cut back on alcohol.