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Lacking Zzz's

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Kim Franke-Folstad

Published: September 27, 2007

In the National Sleep Foundation's 2002 Sleep in America Poll, 37 percent of adults reported they snored at least a few nights a week during the previous year, and 27 percent said they snore every night or almost every night.

Of course, those are just the people who know they snore, probably because a spouse complains. Others may be sleeping right through the racket.

Some couples adjust. The snorer learns to sleep on his side, or his spouse builds up a resistance to the noise (possible with heavy breathers and rhythmic snorers; less so with snorters, rumblers and wheezers). Many couples end up in separate bedrooms or even add a "snoring room" just off the master suite, built with thick drywall and other soundproofing products.

While you sleep the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward and your throat becomes narrow and "floppy," according to the sleep foundation. As you breathe, the walls of your throat begin to vibrate and make the snoring sound.

Even if you never were a snorer before, aging can get you snuffling, and women are more likely to snore once they enter menopause. Any condition that blocks your nose or throat can make you snore — including the common cold. If you smoke, or if you drink alcohol or take muscle relaxants close to bedtime, there's a good chance you'll snore. Obesity is also a risk factor.

Dental devices that keep the jaw and tongue forward can help lighter snorers. And there are lots of over-the-counter products to try.

Serious snorers should be tested for sleep apnea, which can worsen cardiovascular problems or cause high blood pressure and headaches. If breathing is uneven, or if there are frequent pauses in breathing, a trip to the doctor is definitely in order.

Kim Franke-Folstad

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