Why Do I Snore?
This educational guide is brought to you courtesy of the
makers of the VitalSleep anti-snoring mouthpiece.
One in Three Adults Snore
Snoring is a problem that affects 67% of adults. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 120 million snore nightly. More than an annoyance, snoring disrupts sleep for snorers and their sleeping partners which can lead to serious health risks and a lowered quality of life.
What Exactly Is Snoring?
Snoring is caused by a partial obstruction in the passageway between one’s lungs and nose or mouth during sleep. For example, as you sleep, the throat muscles relax and narrow this passageway. When air travels over the partial obstruction, the soft tissues vibrate and the harsh sounds of snoring occur.
Symptoms of Snoring
Obviously, the primary symptom of snoring is its annoying, grating sound which interrupts your sleep and others’. Most people discover they snore from a bed partner whose sleep has been disrupted. But if you sleep alone, you may not know that you snore.
Watch, then, for these other symptoms: waking up with a sore throat or a dry mouth, or with a feeling of fatigue that persists through the day.
Finding the Cause
There are several ways in which an air passage can be blocked resulting in snoring. You may need to do some detective work to pinpoint exactly why you snore. Some people snore due to common causes, such as nasal congestion or sleep position.
Others may snore due to a serious medical condition known as “sleep apnea.” It is critical to distinguish between the two in effectively treating snorers.
Sleep Apnea and Its Warning Signs
The word “apnea” means a temporary suspension of breathing. Sleep apnea refers to the temporary suspension of breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea stop breathing while they sleep, some as briefly as a few seconds, others for minutes. As sleep apnea is typically accompanied by snoring, it is often mistaken for a case of simple snoring.
Regardless, sleep apnea is a serious medical condition which, untreated, can be life-threatening. In addition to loud snoring, other sleep apnea symptoms include pauses in breathing during sleep (as observed by another), waking suddenly with shortness of breath, waking with a dry mouth or sore throat, morning headaches, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, attention difficulties and irritability. Sleep apnea strains the body and its functions and can cause heart disease. Sleep apnea sufferers are also prone to type 2 diabetes, metabolic issues and liver problems. If you suspect you or your bed partner may have sleep apnea, consult your doctor as soon as possible for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Why We Snore
As covered above, snoring is caused by air traveling over a partially blocked airway between the lungs and nose or mouth during sleep. Here is a list of ways in which the airway can become blocked and cause people to snore:
1. Growing Older: As people age, their muscles lose tone and become more susceptible to vibrations. The loose tissue in the throat and soft palate (the fleshy part toward the back of the throat) collapses more readily, resulting in a narrower airway.
2. Weight and Obesity: Weight gain means more fat around the head and neck, especially for men. The excess weight can cause the airway to narrow and collapse, particularly while the body is relaxed during sleep.
3. Throat and Nose Structure: Structural issues within the body can produce the obstructed or uneven air flow which causes snoring. These include nasal polyps, a deviated septum, scar tissue and large adenoids, tonsils, tongue or uvula (that little thing that hangs down in the back of your throat).
4. The Common Cold, Flu and Infection: Sinus congestion and nasal stuffiness constrict the nasal passages causing one to breathe through the mouth. When this occurs during sleep, it can result in snoring.
5. Allergies: Many allergy symptoms are caused by inflammation, including itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sinus pain and headaches. This inflammation swells the tissue around the throat and sinuses and also causes excess mucus. This condition blocks the airway.
6. Alcohol: Alcohol relaxes people both physically and mentally. Drinking in excess or before bed causes the throat muscles to relax too much and obstruct airflow which produces snoring. Additionally, alcohol dulls the reflexes, diminishing one’s ability to recognize and respond to discomfort by waking up or shifting position.
7. Smoking: Smoking is an irritant which inflames the respiratory system, progressively narrowing the airway which causes snoring. Even nonsmokers who live with smokers are more inclined to snore due to the inflammation caused by second-hand smoke.
8. Sleeping Position: Sleeping on one’s back causes the tongue to fall back, creating an obstruction that produces snoring. Doctors recommend sleeping on one’s side.
9. Pregnancy: The rapid changes that come with pregnancy present many physical challenges, including snoring. For pregnant women, snoring can be caused by weight gain, excess congestion, back sleeping and pressure from the uterus on the diaphragm.
The VitalSleep Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece
The VitalSleep anti-snoring mouthpiece diminishes snoring by holding the lower jaw forward to keep your airway clear and allow air to pass freely to your lungs. By having a clearer airway, you’ll experience improved airflow, quiet breathing and more restful sleep. VitalSleep is cleared by the FDA to reduce snoring and is made of FDA-cleared, medical-grade materials so you can trust it to be safe and effective.
For more information on our mouthpiece and the negative impact of snoring on one’s health, visit www.VitalSleep.com.
Benefits of Use
- Improves the quality of your sleep.
- You'll experience improved sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.
- Treats the cause of unhealthy snoring.
- Sleep soundly and for longer periods of time, without costly doctor visits.
- Awake restored, refreshed, and more alert.
Improved sleep has been proven to help:
- concentration and focus
- work performance
- energy and mood
- improve coordination and reduce accidents
- maintain a healthy weight
- remedy depression
What's included
- One VitalSleep Snoring Mouthpiece
- Protective carrying case
- Instruction manual
- Adjustment tool for personal adjustments
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- 1 year warranty which includes free replacements for any reason
- Bonus Ebook - 33 Tips To Improve Your Sleep
Delivery and Guarantee
60-Night Money Back Guarantee
We believe you should actually try a product to decide if you like it. So we give you 60 nights to use VitalSleep.