How & why do we snore? | James May Q&A (Ep 38) | Head Squeeze
1,623The physiology of snoring explained by James May, so hopefully you can avoid sounding like a pig.
Unfortunately for all of us, snoring is one of the loudest noises a human can make. Noise levels of up to 92 decibels have been recorded which would make it quite impossible to sleep next to such a beast. Even more unfortunately, it's an automatic version of the noise we use to infer derision or to imitate swine.
The physiology of snoring, what is actually happening is quite simple. Snoring occurs when our air passages are slightly blocked, that is either the nose or the throat. This causes vibration in the soft palate and the ovular which you can see dangling down the back of your throat (those aren't in fact your tonsils).
There are a number of factors contributing towards the air blockage that causes snoring. It can be triggered by simply sleeping at the wrong angle, or by taking too many relaxants prior to sleeping, i.e. going to bed drunk.
Snoring is not good for you. Snorers have increased risk of stroke and heart attack. In extreme cases snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnoea, which is where your body struggles to intake enough oxygen while you sleep.
Losing a bit of weight can often help with snoring as fatty deposits around the throat contribute to airway blockage. Also try sleeping at a different angle as lying on your back makes you far more likely to snore. There are also surgical procedures available, braces to hold your tongue in the correct position and for severe sufferers of sleep apnoea, pressurised air to ensure oxygen supply.
If that lot hasn't put you to sleep already, give us a thumbs up and share your snorey stories with us in the comments below. Don't forget to subscribe for more video nuggets of wisdom from the lovely James May.
One way to stop snoring is to stay awake, But just how long can you go without sleep?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCXwqkHTi3Y&feature=share&list=PLMrtJn-MOYmfqNgyPxx6NYMZnd25y4shc
Snoring so loud you could wake the dead? Check out Ross Exton on- Is Resurrection Possible?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg8g4BddHBQ&feature=share&list=PLMrtJn-MOYme6klSjJXoZfWmNZ6ZthOSA
http://www.youtube.com/user/HeadsqueezeTV
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=HeadsqueezeTV
James May's Q&A: With his own unique spin, James May asks and answers the oddball questions we've all wondered about from 'What Exactly Is One Second?' to 'Is Invisibility Possible?'