Mention snoring in conversation with almost anyone and they will have a story to tell; their eyes will roll, their voice will rise as they tell you just how impossible it is to live with their other half ‘s continual snoring. It seems to be a problem that affects nearly half of the population, with most with most of the culprits being men and most of the exasperated sleepless listeners being women!
Snoring is not just an irritating annoyance – it can be the cause of a great deal of marital disharmony, sometimes even culminating in divorce! The noise that snorers makes varies from a soft wheeze (which can often be solved by poking your partner in the ribs and make him turn over), to an earthshattering roar that can be heard several rooms away. I’m not joking about this last; my former brother-in-law snored so loudly that I could hear him downstairs. How my poor sister stood it, I will never know!
Snoring can be caused by several factors; men are more likely to be snorers than women and smokers and those who are overweight are more likely to be snorers than those who don’t and aren’t. Being overweight can cause snoring mainly in men. as fat tends to gather on them under the chin, and poor muscle tone in this area causes the tissues to vibrate while sleeping – resulting in the characteristic rasping noise of the snore.
Women, interestingly enough, don’t tend to put on weight very much in this area, most of their excess weight going on to the stomach, bottom and thighs. Also, women have a larger surface area to their lungs corresponding to their size than men do, making them less likely to suffer from snoring.
Snoring is simply caused by the soft tissues in the mouth vibrating and can come from the nose or from the base of the tongue. Those who have naturally small nostrils or obstruction can snore, as does just about everybody when they have a blocked nose or rhinitis. Our bodies are actually designed to breathe through the nose in sleep, not the mouth, so when the snorer breathes into the mouth, the cold air hitting the palate causes the vibration and there you have your snore!
Other factors that can cause snoring include lack of exercise, alcohol intake, sleeping pills, smoking, plus sleeping on your back or having allergies which cause rhinitis. Results in all cases are the same – a lot of noise, poor quality sleep for the sufferer and no sleep at all for the unfortunate partner.
Snoring cannot be cured, but can often be managed by changing habits or lifestyle. As a last resort, mouth surgery can be performed in various guises, although this is indeed a last resort as such surgery is painful and expensive and does not always work. Often the best way to maintain marital harmony is for the wife to have a separate bedroom. This is not as drastic as it sounds, means that both partners get some sleep and are far more likely to remain together. And remain friends.
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