Snoring is the act of breathing through the open mouth in such a way as to cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound which may vary from a soft noise to a loud unpleasant sound. This most commonly occurs during sleep. Diagram showing the uvula, tonsils, soft palate, and tongue Uvula without tonsils (after tonsillectomy) The uvula (IPA: ) is a small, mucosa-covered set of muscles, musculus uvulae, hanging down from the soft palate, near the back of the throat. ... The soft palate, or velum, is the soft tissue comprising the back of the roof of the mouth. ... Sleep is the state of natural rest observed in most mammals, birds, fish, as well as invertebrates such as the fruitfly Drosophila. ...

The cause of snoring is some kind of blockage in the breathing passage. Those blockages can be of many kinds—here are just a few:

• Tongue falling into the throat
• Allergies
• Throat weakness causing the throat to close during sleep
• Mispositioned jaw, often caused by tension in muscles
• Fat gathering in, and around, the throat

When the airflow in the breathing passage becomes irregular due to a blockage the soft palate may start flapping. This flapping of the soft palate is what makes the snoring sound. The tongue is the large bundle of skeletal muscles on the floor of the foot that manipulates food for chewing and swallowing, (deglutition). ... Anatomy In anatomy, the throat is the part of the neck anterior to the vertebral column. ... An allergy can refer to several kinds of immune reactions including Type I hypersensitivity in which a persons body is hypersensitised and develops IgE type antibodies to typical proteins. ... The soft palate, or velum, is the soft tissue comprising the back of the roof of the mouth. ...

Numerical statistics on snoring are often contradictory, but at least 30% of the adult population and perhaps as many as 50% of people in some demographics snore. ^{[1] [2]}

Snoring is usually an involuntary act, but may also be produced voluntarily.

According to Dr. William C Dement, of the Stanford Sleep Center, anyone who snores and has daytime drowsiness should be evaluated for sleep disorders. William C. Dement (born 1928), is a pioneering sleep researcher, and founder of the worlds first sleep laboratory at Stanford University. ...

Cures

Snoring cures almost all revolve around clearing the blockage in the breathing passage. This is the reason snorers are advised to lose weight (to stop fat from pressing on the throat), to stop smoking (smoking weakens and clogs the throat), and to sleep on their side (to prevent the tongue from blocking the throat).

Surgery is one option to cure snoring (for example a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty); dental appliances such as a mandibular advancement splint are another. There are many devices such as nose clips to keep the nose open and jaw mechanics to keep the jaw in the right position. A pinky ring is purported to reduce snoring through accupressure.^[3] Different aids work for different people. According to the British Medical Journal, playing the didgeridoo can also help.^[4] Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known by the abbreviation UPPP) is a surgical procedure used to remove tissue in the throat. ... A mandibular splint or mandibular advancement splint is a small plastic device worn in the mouth that may be used for correcting jaw and tooth problems, or for improving the quality of sleep by reducing some types of snoring or sleep apnea. ... A didgeridoo. ...

External links

• Snoring treatment from Solutions4Snoring
• Snoring treatment slashes heart-attack rates
• Snoring from EntNet.org
• Snoring: Self-assessment test. medical advice and discussion forum from Snoring.com.au
• Snoring: Symptoms, Causes, Cures, and Treatment
• Snoring articles, expert interviews, book reviews, and resources
• Snoring from LucidNet.co.uk
• Stop snoring without surgery guide
• Snoring Articles
• British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association
• The Sleep Apnoea Trust Association

References