Who Is Most At Risk For Snoring

Snoring is common enough that at times it may seem like everyone is affected by it. We see it on sitcoms, read about it in books and magazines, and tease our brothers, our parents, our husbands and wives for doing it. But how common is it really and who is most likely to do it?
Statistics and studies claim that thirty to sixty percent of adults snore and that most people who snore do so regularly. Adults snore more than children and those children who do snore, often snore so quietly that it rarely causes any ill effect.

In adults, men are roughly twice as likely as women to snore and the odds go up for both genders the older they get. People are also more likely to snore while lying on their backs. It makes sense then that so many TV shows and movies show the father or grandfather snoring while lying on their backs on the couch during a nap.

Size can have an effect on snoring as well. Heavy or overweight people are much more likely to snore due to fat buildup on the throat causing the air passageway to be narrower.

People with allergies often snore due to nasal inflammation as are people with colds, flus or other illnesses. If someone commonly snores during one season but never seems to snore during another, it's very likely caused by allergies, illness or seasonal colds.

A deviated septum or uneven nasal partition can cause a person to snore. This is one case where the best solution is often surgery. If you believe your snoring is caused by one of these, you may want to discuss your options with your doctor. He may recommend minor surgery to fix the problem.

Drugs and alcohol are another factor that can lead to snoring. Narcotics and depressants relax the throat muscles which can easily cause a person to snore.

If the snoring is particularly loud or disruptive, or if you find yourself waking with a start throughout the night, your snoring may be caused by sleep apnea, a serious condition that can be life threatening if not properly treated. In this case, a doctor would need to confirm that you do have sleep apnea with a sleep study and then prescribe treatment.

There are many causes of snoring and just as many solutions to the problem. If snoring is causing you to have disruptive sleep or disrupting the sleep of your partner, try to find the safest, most natural way to deal with the problem. There are solutions to fit every lifestyle from strips and sprays on the pharmacy to simple comfortable acupressure anti-snoring rings.

If the snoring is particularly loud, disruptive or worrisome for any other reason, mention it to your doctor during your next visit. There's no reason to lose sleep over something that in most cases is easily treatable.