If you run through the many possible causes of snoring, you would notice that they can be categorized into two distinct groups: it’s either they are out of your control, or they’re not. the first group includes heredity and anatomy. A study conducted at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in April 2006 showed that children of parents who snore are three times more likely to have snoring problems as well. Meanwhile, data showing that men snore more than women is basically attributed to the fact that men have narrower airways than women. Snoring happens when air passages are obstructed or are narrowed, not allowing the free flow of air during sleep. there is also the fact that women’s lower jaws are ideally slightly recessed, giving room for the tongue to be positioned correctly during sleep. After all, incorrect position of the tongue when one is asleep is also seen as a cause of snoring.
The second group, on the other hand, includes causes of snoring that we can have control over. among them are health issues such as obesity, overeating, lack of exercise, and other throat-related ailments. Certain medications, alcohol and smoking are also known precursors to snoring.
Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health can be read in many cigarette boxes and marks. Obviously, people associate the health risks of smoking to health problems such as lung cancer and other forms of cancer, respiratory diseases, coronary heart disease, and stroke. really, if it poses such grave risks, who would even associate it with something as seemingly inconsequential as snoring?
Inconsequential it is not. although not a lot of attention is given to the relationship between smoking and snoring, studies on the subject have been conducted. for one, it has been found that smokers have a higher tendency to be persistent snorers than non-smokers. Even non-smokers who are constantly exposed to second-hand smoke also tend to develop snoring problems.
Now you may wonder how on earth that could happen. Snoring occurs when the airways in the throat and nose narrow or become blocked during sleep. Thus, while one is asleep, air that is inhaled and exhaled is forced to pass through a much smaller passageway, making that noise often likened to sawing wood or logs. Now when smoke is inhaled, directly or passively, the chemicals included in the cigarette smoke will irritate the membranes found on the throat and nose. as a result, the airways will be irritated and the ensuing inflammation will cause a narrowing of the air passageway.
Many researchers also point to nicotine and its addictive quality as a cause for snoring. Smokers in the state of slumber suffer nicotine withdrawal that result to changes in breathing patterns. more often than not, these unexpected changes in breathing patterns are considered to interfere with the normal flow of air in and out of the system, hence, the snoring.
Giving up smoking is claimed by many to be one of the toughest things to do. although some may reckon that quitting smoking in order to reduce – and altogether stop – snoring is quite a lame reason, it is a excellent start. If you do, not only will you be saving yourself from the obvious health effects of smoking but also the complications brought about by snoring when left unchecked and untreated.