It might seem a trivial issue, but a it was a question of minor importance that grew into a big debate in the scientific community. Could astronauts snore? This was discussed from the early days of manned space flights and the debate has continued into the days of shuttle flights and the use of the space station.

Some believed that without normal gravity it was impossible to snore. The airflow would be wrong, there would be no possible way for the normal constriction of the throat to occur. How would there be vibration with no gravity?

While many people in the world snore, few know exactly why their body does what it does, and how they can fix the problem. One of the most common causes of snoring is alcohol. Alcohol, a depressant, travels through all areas of the body and slows your brain’s response mechanism. In addition, alcohol relaxes the muscles of the body more so than normal sleeping does.

Since your muscles are more relaxed while under the influence, your orophanyx (the back of your throat) begins to collapse more rapidly then when sober. This can be one of the root causes of why snoring occurs for an individual.

Apnea

The cause of snoring will vary from person to person as will the frequency and volume of the snore. One thing is for sure though – snoring can be a huge problem for the snorer and everyone else living in the same household.

Ironically, many people do not question the fact that they or a partner snores. If they lived next door to neighbours who made the same amount of noise every night you can bet that they would have a great deal to say, but because the noise and disturbance is generated by snoring, it is accepted as a fact of life.

There is no doubt that snoring can place enormous strain on relationships with the sleepless partner becoming more irritable and resentful as night after night they are denied the sleep they need. In fact, snoring need not be tolerated. It need not be endured and a good night’s sleep should be available to everyone.

First Steps in Snoring Reduction

The noise of snoring is generated by airflow trying to push its way through an obstructed airway. Whilst snoring in itself is not an illness it is often symptomatic of other health conditions – one of which is an allergic reaction to an irritant.

Allergic rhinitis is a health condition in which the membrane lining the nose and throat becomes inflamed. It is usually triggered by an allergic reaction to an inhaled substance. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often called hayfever.

When the membrane lining the nasal passageways becomes inflamed it causes an obstruction to the airway and, as we have already established, it is just such a blockage that creates the symptom of snoring.

Sometimes surgery is a viable option when all else fails. The specific goal of surgery is to “enlarge the airway and prevent snoring and airway collapse.” Surgery is “site-specific”, meaning that it pinpoints a particular area of the airway and makes it bigger. Nasal surgery poses as great a risk to health as any operation does, with the biggest concern being anesthesia. The greatest advantage of nasal surgery is that it often provides a permanent solution for the sleep apnea problem.

Septoplasty

Septoplasty is one form of nasal surgery that is performed by way of the nasal passages. The septum is the piece of cartilage that divides the nostrils into two separate passages. Those with a crooked (or deviated) septum can experience problems with their airways as it works as an obstruction to breathing.