Snoring is a universal problem that affects a huge chunk of the population around the world. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, how smart you are, if you snore – you snore. There are various causes for snoring. As is the case with the other common conditions that affect a large number of people around the world, there are a number of very popular myths about snoring. Some of these myths are perpetuated by word of mouth, while some are commonly held beliefs even among some members of the medical community. Here is a list of some of the most commonly believed myths about snoring.

There are various causes for snoring. As it’s often the case with common issues, there are a number of very popular myths about snoring. Some of these myths are perpetuated by word of mouth, while some are commonly held beliefs even among some members of the medical community. Unfortunately, sometimes, the myths can be even more harmful than the condition itself. Here is a list of some of the most commonly believed myths about snoring.

Women do not snore
I really don’t know how this could have started. That is an absolutely false (and preposterous) statement, as the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association explains. This myth is particularly harmful one as it then results in women not going to the doctor with their snoring problem. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnoea, and the outright denial of the fact that the fairer sex is not affected by snoring can lead to dangerous consequences for a lot of women. Many women do not go to the doctor or openly discuss their snoring issues because they feel that snoring is unnatural for women, and is essentially ‘unladylike’. It is true that men are more likely to have snoring issues than women. However, women also snore and it is a condition that affects people irrespective of their gender.

Snoring is annoying, but not at all harmful
In most cases, snoring is caused by causes that are not harmful and are reversible, like poor sleeping posture and alcohol intake. However, this is not always the case and snoring can be associated with some health concerns. Especially if a person snores regularly, there could be an actual medical condition involved. One such medical condition is commonly known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. If the claims of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism are to be believed, people suffering from this condition can often have breathing difficulties and end up waking up at night gasping for breath. The obstruction of the airways can result in the lack of sufficient oxygen supply to the brain, and also put a strain on the heart. Regular snoring is often also associated with hypertension as well as obesity. Therefore, snoring cannot be dismissed as just an annoying habit.

Nasal cleansing is enough to cure snoring

Nasal obstruction due to a common cold can result in snoring. In this case, blowing your nose can definitely help. However, this is not a major cause and nasal cleansing is often not enough to cure snoring. The obstruction is usually always in the throat, and it is essential to look into the causes of the throat obstruction, not just the nasal one. In some cases, you might need more serious treatment or even a snoring aid.

Children never snore, and even if they do, it is not harmful

This is another potentially dangerous myth. Yes, it is true that snoring is a problem that mostly affects adults. However, children too can have snoring issues. Children who snore regularly are in fact in danger as the most common cause of children snoring is the obstruction of the throat due to tonsils.