¿Why do we snore and how do we stop doing it?
There is a physical explanation of why you snore and if you can not stop doing it, if you can reduce the noise. Learn how
Snoring is a very normal activity. Worldwide, approximately 45% of the population snores occasionally, while 25% do so on a regular basis. In the local spectrum, the sleep unit of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation estimates that currently half of the male adult population and a quarter of the female snore.
What are the snoring?
When sleeping the muscles of the throat and trachea relax. If you find yourself on your back, both your jaw and your tongue (which loses its normal tone while resting) slide farther back than usual, obstructing the passage of air from the pits in your throat. This hinders the entry and exit of air from the lungs, forcing the individual to breathe through the mouth.
The scientific explanation would be that the air is forced to pass through a narrower opening, which generates a vibration in the veil and uvula (tissue types) of the palate, making a slight nasal sound. However, this increases as the mouth dries with the passage of air, and the vibrations are enhanced. This can be extremely annoying for those who coexist with the person who snores, especially if they have a light sleep.
Although the reasons for why you snore are often unknown, there are certain factors that increase the risk of it. Overweight increases the tissue of the neck that presses the airways. On the other hand, pregnant women also have a higher risk of snoring, especially in the last month of pregnancy when the same effect of overweight on the neck occurs.
The deformations of the nasal septum, which is the structure that separates the nostrils, as well as in the bones of the face in general can also affect breathing. Congestion, nasal polyps, and swelling of the veil or uvula can also lead to it.
Sometimes snoring is a symptom of a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea, where the person stops breathing totally or partially for more than 10 seconds while sleeping. Snorting or snoring usually happens after each episode.
According to Dr. Ana Machado of the University Hospital Quirón Madrid, menopause increases the percentage of women who snore as fat accumulates in the base of the palate, which obstructs the passage of air.
How to stop snoring?
Snoring can not be avoided, but it can be reduced. Take note of some advice provided by the Medical Center of the University of Maryland, United States.
First try to stay away from alcohol and other types of sedatives before bedtime. When you go to bed you choose to sleep on your side instead of on your back. Maybe even with a small ball in your lower back, this will not allow you to sleep comfortably on your back.
If you are overweight, try to lose it. The effects will not only be noticed when sleeping but in your general state of health. Obesity breeds numerous problems, of which snoring is one of the mildest.
Look for exercises for the throat, sometimes these can help rest the muscles before sleeping and thus avoid these annoying sounds.