13 Things What You Should Know About Snoring

Things to know about snoring

- Anna-Kaisa Walker

1 It’s common. An estimated 45 per cent of adults snore occasionally, and one in four are chronic snorers.

2 That buzz-saw sound is caused by loose, floppy tissues in your throat, tongue and palate vibrating and slapping together. Nasal congestion, being overweight, drugs, alcohol and a deviated septum can all compress the airway, making the vibrations stronger.

3 Snoring itself won’t hurt you, but it could hurt your marriage: one British survey found that 12 percent of respondents cited snoring as a reason for divorcing a spouse.

4 If your snoring is interrupted by bouts of total breathing obstruction, talk to your doctor. You may have sleep apnea, diagnosed in 6.4 percent of Canadians. Sufferers are roused out of deep sleep as many as 300 times a night, experience chronic daytime drowsiness and are at risk for high blood pressure and heart problems.