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What do the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, King George II of England and Roman Emperor Marcus Otho have in common? All of these famous personalities were snorers ' a common problem that affects more than one-third of adults and may indicate a serious health condition.

'The sound of snoring is caused by tissues in the throat that vibrate and partially obstruct your airway, as the airflow becomes more forceful in response to the narrowed airway, tissue vibration increases and snoring becomes louder. The Vancouver Sleep and Breathing Center said that 30 percent of the adult population and as much as 50 percent of people in some areas snore. The usual victims are overweight males and the problem often gets worse with age' according to Dr. Herminia P. Chavez of the Queen Mary Holistic Center in Manila.

Snoring has many causes. Chavez said these include a low, thick soft palate (the muscles in the roof of your mouth), enlarged tonsils or adenoids (tissues in the back of the throat), excessive drinking before bedtime, being overweight, chronic nasal congestion or a deviated nasal septum (a crooked partition between your nostrils).

Snorers are in good company since many of them include former United States Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, and Richard Nixon. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and American President Grover Cleveland were both overweight, loved alcohol and were also snorers.

For most people, loud and frequent snoring is often a nuisance, especially to the snorer's bedmate or roommates who may find it difficult to sleep. The Guinness Book of World Records reports that the loudest snorer is Kare Walkert of Kumla, Sweden, whose snoring level was measured at 93 decibels (comparable to the sound of a lawn mower). Previously, the record for the loudest snorer was held by Melvin Switzer of Kent, England whose snoring score was 87.5 decibels (comparable to a fire siren).

In others, however, snoring may be a symptom of a potentially serious sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that is characterized by episodes of loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing briefly stops. This can occur several times at night, causing lack of oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide that forces the snorer to wake up with a loud snort or gasping sound.

'Untreated, persistent snoring caused by OSA may raise your risk of developing high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke. In children, it may increase their risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),' Chavez warned.

Studies show that OSA can also reduce the snorer's sex drive due to oxygen deprivation, fatigue and depression. This explains why heavy snorers often lose interest in sex. To prevent snoring, Chavez offers the following tips:

Lose weight. Shed some pounds to prevent extra bulkiness in the throat that narrows your airway. This can be done by eating right and regular exercise.

Sleep on your side. Lying on your back allows your tongue to fall backward into your throat, narrowing your airway and partially obstructing airflow.

Treat nasal congestion or obstruction. Having a deviated septum or allergies can limit airflow through your nose. This forces you to breathe through your mouth, increasing the likelihood of snoring.

Limit or avoid alcohol and sedatives. Avoid drinking alcohol at least four hours before bedtime, and let your doctor know about your snoring before taking sedatives or hypnotics.