Have you ever heard your family members complain about how you transform into a tractor at night in your sleep? Well, according to research, 45 percent of adults snore at night. So, cheer up; you are not the only one who snores.

There are tissues present in the nasal airway. At night when you sleep, the muscles relax, causing the passageway to contract, and the tissues to vibrate. These friendly vibrations translate into the low-pitched tractor noise we call snoring.

One can snore due to many different harmless reasons: obesity, alcohol consumption, consuming prescribed sedatives, nasal congestion, pregnancy, etc. Although snoring is not a sign of anything major, sometimes it does appear as a symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

OSA is a complication that occurs when, for some reasons, a person's nasal airway gets obstructed. OSA often leads to loss of sleep. How would one know they suffer from OSA? Daytime drowsiness, teeth grinding and jaw clenching (also called bruxism), nocturia, lack of concentration can all be signs.

How can one reduce snoring?

Contrary to popular belief, snoring can be reduced, managed, and almost be made to appear non-existent. Immediate remedies, without the intervention of a doctor, would have one reduce the level of alcohol or cigarette consumption. In addition, physical exercises always help.

If one wishes to take it a step further, there are mouthpieces which aid the process of anti-snoring. Different types of mouth exercises can also help relax muscles and reduce snoring. But if it gets too much to bear, and you wake up from your own snoring, seeking professional help will be a good idea.

For now, however, just hope your partner is a deep sleeper or has a pair of earbuds.