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Nearly all of us at some stage would have heard someone snoring and many of us have had our sleep significantly disturbed by it. Probably most of us have wondered how a snorer remains asleep despite the incredible noise they generate! Even though the noise may be very loud, it is the result of a very simple phenomenon. The flow of air over a narrowing and floppy airway sets up a vibration that will become increasingly louder as we put more effort into our breathing. According to research, nearly everyone snores occasionally and the incidence increases with age. To put it into perspective, as a population statistic about 24% of men snore regularly and only about 14% of women.
While a mild case of snoring may be irritating to those who have to sleep nearby, in most cases it is not dangerous. Usually it consists of a continuous repetition of snore-snore-snore sounds without any non-breathing or gasping intervals. Mostly the person who is snoring is unaware that they are creating such a ruckus, especially if their sleep is not disturbed.
In fact often they themselves have no problem sleeping, and if all they do is snore, and not have pauses in their breathing, then chances are they will not be sleepy the next day (provided they have no other sleep disorder). However, while the snorer may be having a good night’s sleep, the partner is at risk of serious sleep deprivation. If you do sleep with a snorer, invest in a good set of earplugs, use a fan to mask the noise and if need be, sleep in another room.
Keep in mind though that snoring itself is frequently an indicator of the more serious condition of sleep apnoea. This is especially so if the snoring is accompanied by episodes of non-breathing and gasping.
Want to know more about snoring? Check out our other articles , Stop Snoring! Or The Truth About Snoring.