IIt sounds like the kind of sexist stereotypes that the delicate ladies were told once in school, it may be surprising that women really do – on the whole – less than men. Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, consultant in an ear, nose and throat and sleep surgeon at college university in London, says that men are almost twice as much likely as women to Ronfifier. “But this gap is narrowed at two special moments in the lives of women,” he said. “One is after menopause, generally between 45 and 55. The second is pregnancy, especially in the third quarter.”
The snoring occurs when the air flow is partially blocked through the upper respiratory tract, causing vibrations at the back of the nose, the soft palate, the throat, the tongue or the epiglotte (the “lid” on your trachea). This happens because the respiratory tract muscles relax while we sleep and we are dragged by gravity when we go to bed. Other factors may make us more likely to ronfify. Alcohol is further relaxing muscles. The additional body weight exerts pressure on the throat. Allergies, nasal polyps, a deviated septum or simply a cold can block the airways.
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Female hormones, such as estrogens and progesterone, seem to keep the muscles of the more toned respiratory tract, explains Cheong. “This is why women tend to catch up with men when levels change during menopause and pregnancy.” The added weight during pregnancy worsens the problem.
Interestingly, he says, when women snore, they are less likely to report it, “because it is more stigmatized”.
Cheong says that a change in snoring models should not be ignored because it could be a symptom of a medical problem. “This can be an indicator of sleep apnea – a serious affection where breathing stops several times during the night.”
Whatever your gender, Cheong says that if your snoring is strong enough for this to regularly disturb the sleep of your partner, it is worth going to the doctor.
