Snoring is a universal problem - it affects people from every nationality, every religion, both sexes and even other species.

Because snoring is such a widespread problem, there are a multitude of gizmos and gadgets, not to mention pills and potions that all claim to be the one and only cure for snoring.

A more serious treatment is surgery, which can be painful and expensive - but not always successful.

Before you spend a bunch of money on the latest gimmick or consider surgery, it's worth looking at one of the simplest solutions - exercise.

Snoring is caused by restricted airflow. When the airway is blocked, the uvula vibrates against the throat tissue, causing the sound we all know.

Your airway can become restricted for quite a few different reasons. These reasons can be physical, such as being overweight, or they may be caused by an infection that has inflamed the throat. Being overweight is one of the more common causes.

Many people get less exercise than their body needs to maintain a healthy weight. One of the areas that this excess weight can accumulate is in the neck and throat area, which can lead to excessive snoring problems.

By exercising daily, you will begin to burn off this excess fat which can help to minimize or even get rid of your snoring.

You don't necessarily need to spend hours in the gym every day, though. There are lots of simple things you can do to help maintain your weight.

Use the stairs rather than the elevator. Park a little farther back in the mall parking lot and walk the extra distance. Take your dog for a walk every day.

If you're carrying some extra weight and think it might be part of the reason for your snoring, it's worth losing some of the weight to see if it helps with your snoring problem. If it turns out that the snoring is being caused by something else, you can at least feel better about your weight.

If you're thinking of starting a new exercise program be sure to get the advice of your doctor before you start, and don't jump into it full blast - start simple and build up to higher levels as you progress.