15 truths and 15 myths about snoring

There is a lot of information about snoring … Maybe too much. ? 

Today there is an excess of information on many topics and the problem of snoring is no less. 

Sometimes when we look for answers we find a multitude of pages with scattered and contradictory data. 

In this post today we will lay out a list of  truths and myths about snoring  to clarify some ideas that are often not well informed.

1. Snoring is normal:  false

About 40% of the world’s population is Russian. 

This means that perhaps we all know someone who snores or even live with that person. The fact that so many people snore at night doesn’t make snoring normal and therefore harmless. 

This is one of the major myths about snoring; snoring is ALWAYS a sign that something is wrong .

The reasons can be many: sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, nasal septal deviation, high blood pressure, etc., and all of them require a medical visit to address the root problem. 

If you snore, even if it is light and your snoring gets worse, see a specialist.

2. Snoring is a direct consequence of obesity:  True

When you’re overweight, the tissues in your throat tend to be more fatty and swollen. 

This causes the airways to narrow and snore. In reality, although obesity and being overweight are closely related to snoring,  people with a normal  constitution   and even very thin ones can also suffer from snoring. 

A weight loss diet and exercises that strengthen the throat muscles will always improve the health of a snorer.

3. Women don’t snore:  false

Another of the great myths about snoring. 

It is true that the percentage of women who snore is substantially lower than that of men who snore, but this gap is narrowing over the years. 

In part it is due to the proliferation of diseases in women such as those mentioned in the first point, which usually affect men more and more. 

Women may snore as much or more than some men  , in terms of intensity. It does not depend on your sexual condition but on your health and these snorings too can be treated by the same means. 

Here you can read more about  why we snore  when we sleep.

4. Snoring and sleep apnea are related:  True

In fact,  snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea . 

This does not mean that snorers have apnea, but it does mean that people with apnea snore. 

People who suffer from continuous snoring, with a specific pattern of pauses and silences – which are intervals of not breathing and walking – will be those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

5. Snoring is a major culprit in relationship arguments:  True

Directly or as a side effect of snoring, this condition affects not only the snorer but also his environment. The snoring of one couple also affects the other depriving them of sleep and rest, altering their mood and irritability. 

In an article published by Il Giornale in 2007 , it was estimated that by this year, 2015, the number of couples who would sleep in separate rooms due to snoring would double. 

Are you part of this statistic?

6. Snoring increases with age:  true

The muscles of the throat, over the years, become flaccid and also tend to lose their physical shape. 

This aggravates the appearance of snoring. 

Around age 60, the number of people who snore skyrockets  compared to their 30s. 

The longer it takes to resolve snoring, the more difficult it becomes over time and the greater the intensity and frequency with which it occurs.

7. All anti-snoring devices work:  False

Dozens of snoring stop devices   are advertised today on the internet and in stores but at the moment of truth few are those that have any real effect. 

The best results for heavy snoring and snoring with sleep apnea are  CPAP  and  anti –  snoring splints.

8. Smoking directly affects snoring:  true

The smoke that is inhaled with tobacco dries out the lining of the throat and the movement of the muscles becomes unnatural. Also, the muscles in the throat become inflamed and tightened, so the soft palate sags and blocks the passage of air. This is why  smoking promotes snoring  . One of the first steps to stop snoring is to quit smoking.

9. Snoring increases with fatigue and alcohol:  True

If you go to bed at 3am shipwrecked and after a party you’ll snore worse than other times. Here’s how it goes. 

Even the accumulated fatigue of several days by sleeping badly or making excessive efforts favors this situation. 

Spirit  works in the  same way that snuff is a  muscle relaxant  that allows muscles to contract. 

Also,  the more tired you are, the more your body tends to relax  to try to recover, thus being counterproductive to the snoring problem.

10. Only surgery cures snoring:  False

As we will never tire of repeating, snoring can be caused by many different reasons and, fortunately,  treatable without the need for surgery . 

This, of course, must be determined by the specialist doctor. 

In many cases a substantial change in lifestyle. will significantly help reduce and eliminate snoring: diet, sleeping posture, quitting smoking, not drinking before sleep, regulating sleep, humidifying the room, etc.

11. Sleeping near pets causes snoring:  False

It is not true. Only if you have an allergy  to saliva or animal hair can snoring appear for obvious reasons. Allergies affect the airways, the walls swell and close, preventing air from circulating normally. By itself, animal hair has no greater influence on snoring than human hair.

12. Sleeping on your back promotes snoring:  true

Posture greatly influences the appearance of snoring and  when you sleep on your back this is usually when it appears most intensely . 

This is because the lungs have more room to expand and the body is relaxed on the back, which causes the body to suck in more air forcefully.

13. Sleeping on your side or stomach prevents snoring:  False

Sleeping on your side is the most recommended position at night as it greatly reduces and can eliminate snoring, but this is not always the case. 

If your snoring is severe or caused by serious reasons, it won’t go away completely  .

14. Babies snore too:  true

It’s not that common, but it can happen. 

And if snoring is already bad for an adult, even more so for children. Children  usually  snore  in response to problems directly related to the airways. It can be enlarged tonsils or uvula, allergies and problems like that.

15. Snoring Means More Rest:  False

Everyone has that image in mind, often portrayed in cartoons, where someone sleeping deeply and peacefully snoring profusely. 

That image, which used to be considered true, is now known to be wrong. 

A person who snores is not synonymous with a person who rests  during sleep because snoring strains the respiratory system and is counterproductive. 

The normal thing is that a person who has been snoring doesn’t have the same feeling of rest and relaxation as someone who hasn’t been snoring all night; sleep was deeper and more restful in the second case.