Why do some people snore so loudly? - Alayna Vaughan

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A leather mask that clamps the mouth shut. A cannonball sewn into a soldier’s uniform. A machine that delivers sudden electrical pulses. These were all treatments for a problem that has haunted humanity for millennia: snoring. It might seem harmless, but snoring can be a sign of something more dangerous. So, what exactly causes snoring? Alayna Vaughan digs into the troublesome sleep disorder.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alayna Vaughan
  • Director Rémi Cans, Boniato Studio
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
  • Animator Andy Redwood
  • Composer Alain Girardot
  • Sound Designer Jean-Baptiste Montmartin
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Editorial Producer Cella Wright
  • Fact-Checker Krystian Aparta
Additional Resources for you to Explore
There are several recourses available in order to educate yourself further on this topic. Additionally, primary care physicians are able to refer you to sleep medicine physicians who specialize in sleep disorders like sleep apnea. They can give patients and families information about sleep apnea, the steps it takes to diagnose it, as well as explore treatment. Here are some useful links:

1)   Mayo Clinic is an excellent recourse for those looking to obtain a brief overview of an illness, treatment, and prognosis.

2)   For those wishing to read up on latest research on the subject, the Journal of American Heart Association published a study in 2019 about the relationship of obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease.

3)   The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine created this card which describes the screening questions for obstructive sleep apnea in an easy to remember mnemonic: STOP-BANG

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alayna Vaughan
  • Director Rémi Cans, Boniato Studio
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
  • Animator Andy Redwood
  • Composer Alain Girardot
  • Sound Designer Jean-Baptiste Montmartin
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Editorial Producer Cella Wright
  • Fact-Checker Krystian Aparta

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