SNORING IS NOT TO BE IGNORED

    Snoring is a big nuisance to put it mildly. Breathing is a normal process, and exchange of gases between the lungs and the outside of the body is required for normal living. Unfortunately, when the process becomes heavy enough, and it is accompanied by some restriction of the passage way, the rumbling of soft tissues produce the unpleasant vibrations that is called snoring. In many cultures, it is often interpreted as a sign of deep sleep, but deep sleep can occur without necessarily resulting in snoring. Snoring is definitely not a sign of health, but it is actually otherwise.While gender is not the only variable in snoring, it is believed to be more common among men than in women. It also depends on body size. Overweight people tend to snore more. Other factors  include general state of health and age. Quite obviously then, someone who snores today may or may not snore some other time.
      While we do not want to separate the biology of snoring from its effects on the family, we want to dwell more on the immediate consequences of snoring on the individual (the snorer), the partners or other family members. It can also, impact other people with whom the snorer interacts. For example, people may occasionally share hotel rooms with friends to save cost. Obviously, the latter is a no-brainer. If you know you snore, you don't even want to try it. Anyhow, let us see what snoring does to the snorer, I think that apart from the fact that snoring is not a sign of good health, it can further decrease the state of health in a practical way. It is a form of noise, and it does not even matter whether the sleeper is producing the noise himself or not. I have been woken from sleep by my own snoring before!
Now, if my own snoring can do that to me, it means I can definitely interfere with someone else's sleep by my snoring if I share a bed or room with them. In fact, in certain types of buildings, snoring can be transmitted across wall barriers. Obviously, even if a partner can sleep through the other's snoring, the quality of sleep will still be certainly reduced. In some instances snoring could metamorphose into sleep apnea, a condition where the person actually stops breathing for a few seconds!
      Is it possible that snoring has been problematic between spouses? There is no doubt about that. While the ideal thing is for spouses to sleep together, a lot of spouses have had to sleep in separate rooms because of the problem of snoring. Let's be realistic, if I am going to work in the morning, I must do myself the favor of getting some shuteye before daybreak, or I will be too sluggish at work. However, finding myself another spot to sleep in the house is not the only solution. In fact, it is not feasible when an empty room is not available. Other solutions range from simple to more complex ones. By far the simplest one is to get earplugs. At least, it will block most of the noise out. Depending on the quality of the ear-plug, it is quite possible to experience an almost complete silence while some not so gently snoring is occurring around you. There are other solutions which are commercially available and are advertised all over the place, including some kind of "harness" around the jaws. But the most drastic and expensive solution is surgery. Now, surgery is usually considered the last option for snoring. It is rarely considered except in very severe cases.
    I think when snoring is a problem, especially between partners, it should not be ignored or treated as if it is not there. Some solution should be found, with a lot of understanding between the spouses. The solution preferred will depend on the individuals concerned, but there are options out there.