Facts About Snoring

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

April 23, 1998 / 6:44 PM EDT / CBS

Webster's New International Dictionary defines snoring as "breathing during sleep with a rough, hoarse noise due to vibration of the uvula and soft palate." Ear, Nose, and throat specialists (otolaryngologists) usually define snoring as any resonant noise produced in the upper respiratory tract during sleep.
The snoring sound is produced by the vibrations of the soft tissues of the pharynx, soft palate, and perhaps the uvula.
It is estimated that more than 40 million Americans are afflicted with habitual snoring.
In a 1983 study conducted in Ontario, Canada, with 279 participants, 86 percent of women said their husbands snored, and 52 percent of women said they were troubled by their husbands' snoring. Fifty-seven percent of men said their wives snored and fifteen percent of men said they were troubled by their wives' snoring.
In the past, snoring was regarded as a rather comical nocturnal manifestation. Now it is acknowledged that snoring may be the sign of more profound cardiorespiratory problems.
The most common risk factors for snoring are male gender, obesity, alcohol consumption, ingestion of tranquilizers or muscle relaxants, and smoking.
For an estimated five in 100 people, extremely loud, habitual snoring is the first indication of a potentially life-threatening disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea.