What is snoring?
Snoring occurs when the flow of air from the mouth or nose to the lungs is disturbed during sleep, usually by a blockage or narrowing in the nose, mouth, or throat (airway). This causes the tissues of the airway to vibrate and knock against the back of the throat, resulting in a noise that can be soft, loud, raspy, harsh, hoarse, or fluttering.
You may not know that you snore. Your bed partner may notice the snoring and that you sleep with your mouth open. If snoring interferes with your or your bed partner's sleep, either or both of you may feel tired during the day.
In the past, snoring was often considered no more than a nuisance that kept a bed partner awake at night. However, snoring may progress to upper respiratory resistance syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which you periodically stop breathing during sleep. Because of this, it is important to see your health professional if you routinely snore.
Snoring is common. About 25% to 50% of men and about 25% to 30% of women snore on a regular basis.