Snoring

You just start to settle into bed when all of a sudden your little brother starts snoring. Snoring might disrupt your good night's sleep, but it's normal. In fact, most people don't even know that they snore until someone tells them.

• What makes that snoring sound?
• What causes snoring?
• How can someone stop snoring?

What makes that snoring sound?

Vibrations in parts of your mouth and throat -- your tonsils, uvula, tongue, soft palate and adenoids -- cause snoring. When these structures vibrate against each other, the snoring sound is heard.
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What causes snoring?

People snore for many reasons.

• Allergies
  
• Blocked sinuses
  
• Deviated septum (when the divider between the nostrils is bent)
  
• Swollen tonsils
  
• Being overweight

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How can someone stop snoring?

There are lots of devices that claim to stop snoring. There are nose strips, which keep your nose open, and there are machines that wake you up if you snore. Talk to your parents before you consider these. There might be an easier method:

• Sleep on your side (instead of on your back)
  
• Sleep with your head higher up (add an extra pillow or tilt up your bed).
  
• Avoid eating big meals before going to bed
  
• Clean dust or feathers out of your room and make sure there aren't things that cause allergies near your bed.

If you snore very loudly, see a doctor. You might need your tonsils or adenoids removed. A doctor can also prescribe allergy or cold medicines.

Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, which means that your airways get smaller during the night and breathing is very difficult. Doctors have to monitor you while you sleep to see if you have sleep apnea.

Snoring is common, but there are lots of treatment options. Sleep is important -- don't let snoring get in the way of a good night's sleep.
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