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Dear Sleepless Sharon:
When someone snores, the passageways at the back of the nose and throat which leads to the lungs
have, at least briefly, partially collapsed. That causes the flow of air to and from the lungs to
be partially blocked. When your father inhales and exhales, that air flow causes the fleshy parts
of his throat to vibrate, making the loud, annoying sound we call snoring.
Why did a part of the throat partially fold in on itself? The answer lies with flabby throat
muscles, large tonsils, bulky neck tissue -- even a stuffed-up nose.
Snoring can cause sleepless nights for those who have to hear it. It can also keep the snorer
from getting a good night's sleep and, as a result, he can feel very tired during the day. So,
Sharon, if your Dad's snoring is really loud, tell him to get it checked out by his doctor.
Signed,
Wendell
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