Because of the different reasons of snoring, it is important to understand the real factors behind your snoring. Once you understand the reasons for your snoring, you can find the right solution so that both you and your partner can get a quieter, deeper sleep.
Common causes of snoring
1. Age. As you reach middle age and beyond, your throat becomes narrower, and the muscle tone in your throat decreases.
2. Being overweight. Fatty tissue and poor muscle tone contribute to snoring. Even if you’re not overweight in general, carrying excess weight just around your neck or throat can cause snoring.
3. Being a man. Men have narrower air passages than women and are more likely to snore. A narrow throat, a cleft palate, enlarged adenoids, and other physical attributes that contribute to snoring are often hereditary.
4. Nasal and sinus problems. Blocked airways or a stuffy nose make inhalation difficult and create a vacuum in the throat, leading to snoring.
5. Alcohol, smoking, and medications. Alcohol intake, smoking, and certain medications, such as tranquilizers like lorazepam (Ativan) and diazepam (Valium), can increase muscle relaxation leading to more snoring.
6. Sleep posture. Sleeping flat on your back causes the flesh of your throat to relax and block the airway.[1]
7. Having a family history of snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. Heredity is a potential risk factor for OSA.[2]
Beware of more serious causes
Snoring could indicate sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder where your breathing is briefly interrupted many times each night. You need to see a sleep specialist for further diagnostic for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), if you snore and also have any of the following symptoms:
-Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
-Excessive daytime sleepiness
-Difficulty concentrating
-Morning headaches
-Sore throat upon awakening
-Restless sleep
-Gasping or choking at night
-High blood pressure
-Chest pain at night
-Your snoring is so loud which is disrupting your partner's sleep
-In children, poor attention span, behavioral issues or poor performance in school[2]
How you snore reveals why you snore [1]
| Type of snoring |
What it may indicate |
| Closed-mouth snoring |
May indicate a problem with your tongue |
| Open-mouth snoring |
May be related to the tissues in your throat |
| Snoring when sleeping on your back |
Probably mild snoring |
| Snoring in all sleep positions |
Can mean your snoring is more severe and may require a more comprehensive treatment |
Monitoring your snoring patterns can often help you determine the cause of your snoring, what makes it worse, and how to go about stopping it. Be sure to monitor and treat it as early as possible.
References:
1. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/snoring-tips-to-help-you-and-your-partner-sleep-better.htm, Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., Melinda Smith, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, and Robert Segal, M.A.
2. "Snoring Causes". Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
