For years, you’ve always been a sound sleeper. But lately, your partner or spouse has been waking you up throughout the night because your snoring is disturbing their sleep. So you’re probably asking yourself “Why am I snoring all of a sudden?” If you’ve always considered yourself a non-snorer, or if your partner or spouse has started complaining about the noise recently, it may be time to consider an anti-snoring solution.
Interestingly enough, there are a number of reasons why a person may start snoring all of a sudden, some of which are lifestyle changes that elevate the risk of this happening as well as have a positive effect on your snoring issues. By re-gaining control of the issue, you can start getting a peaceful night’s sleep again and even help with saving your relationship.
More importantly, chronic or frequent snoring can be a warning that you may have sleep apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder that can pose a serious health risk and even be life-threatening if it doesn’t get treated. However, even if your snoring isn’t sleep apnea-related, it can disrupt your sleep and hinder the quality of it. It can also result in lower energy levels and a long list of other health-related issues.
Causes of Snoring
While snoring typically varies from one individual to the next, it can also differ based on a person’s age as well as any health issues they have. Here are a few answers to the question why am I snoring all of a sudden?
Alcohol Consumption and Smoking
One of the key factors on sudden onset of snoring is that there is an increased alcohol consumption especially before bedtime. As alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat and airway passages, the loose tissue led to airway obstruction and snoring.
A 2014 study published in Sleep and Breathing found that alcohol consumption enhances the snoring episodes by 25% even in those that didn’t snore before. It leads to snoring in REM sleep which is characterized by higher loss of muscle tone leading to airway collapse and higher incidents of snoring.
Risk of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea)
If you suddenly started snoring, it can be a sign of developing Obstructive Sleep Apnea wherein you oftentimes get episodes of cessation of breathing when asleep due to airway blockage. As per American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), sleep apnea affects 9% women and 24% men and snoring are one of the key symptoms. Another study that published in Chest that 70%-85% OSA patients have snoring as a primary symptom.
Other reasons you might be snoring is a wrong sleeping position such as sleeping on your back. CPAP therapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea in nearly 80% patients, as per 2016 study published in Respiratory Medicine.
Partially Blocked Nose and Throat Airways
Sudden nasal congestion due to illness or allergies lead to temporary snoring especially when you are forced to breathe through your mouth due to blocked nasal passages. A 2015 study published in The Laryngoscope showed that the people with nasal congestion have a tendency to snore three times more than those without nasal congestion.
Seasonal allergies and cold can cause swelling and inflammation in throat and nasal passages restrict the flow of air. Another reason might be deviated septum and nasal polyps that lead to snoring. Use of antihistamines, nasal sprays, decongestants and nasal strips help to alleviate snoring.
Age and Obesity
As per the study conducted by National Sleep Foundation, nearly 50% of obese or overweight adults tend to snore. If you have experienced weight gain, near the neck and chest area. The extra layers of fat puts pressure on the airways which causes you to snore. Sleep Health found that 44% of men and 28% of women over the age of 40 report habitual snoring. With age, muscles tend to lose tone and loose muscles in the throat or nasal area vibrate more, when you inhale and exhale. And that noise is termed as snoring. Thus, whether you have gained weight or age is catching up, maintaining the muscle tone becomes important by exercising regularly.
Is Snoring a Reason for Concern?
Whether or not your snoring poses a danger to your health depends on the type of snorer you are. For example, if you only snore infrequently or lightly, there’s probably no cause for alarm. But if your snoring is excessively loud a minimum of 3 nights a week or are predisposed to certain snoring risk factors (see above), you should speak with a doctor about an anti-snoring solution, home remedies for snoring, or one of the many natural cures for snoring that are available.A study done in 2018 and published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine showed that a 10% increase in an individual’s weight led to an increase in the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It is a sleep disorder associated with snoring, and that risk goes up to 32% if the individual continues snoring every night.
The bottom line is that snoring disturbs your sleep as well as that of your partner or spouse. Remember, snoring doesn’t always mean you have sleep apnea, but make no mistake about it; this doesn’t mean that it’s harm less. You may notice that your snoring is adversely affecting you during the day as well as when you’re sleeping. You might also notice that your energy and productivity levels have decreased and that you’re sleepy during the day.
How do I stop Snoring?
The market is riddled with an anti-snoring solution for just about every type of snorer there is. Unfortunately, most fail to deliver the results they promise. In addition to nasal dilators, nasal sprays, and nasal strips, there are several home remedies for snoring and natural cures for snoring. Some of these include lifestyle changes such as:
- avoiding alcohol before bedtime
- avoiding big meals and dairy products late at night
- buying a humidifier
- elevating the head of your bed
- losing weight
- quitting smoking
- sleeping on your side instead of your back
- treating allergies and congestion
In addition to these lifestyle changes, a nasal spray such as Asonor Anti-snoring Nasal Spray Solution can be effective at providing snoring relief, especially if your snoring is sleep apnea-related. As a highly effective anti-snoring solution, this product has been clinically proven to provide snoring relief in 3 out of every 4 cases studied. If you’d like to learn more about this amazing product, you can visit our website or e-mail any questions you may have to [email protected].