What Causes Snoring in Females and How to Stop It

Are you snoring or maybe your partner’s snoring is distracting you from getting a good night’s sleep? Usually, most people assume that men snore but they forget that women snore too. Snoring is not uniquely a common problem among men.  Women snore as well and just as loudly for that matter.  Furthermore, the same health risks associated with snoring in men apply to women as well.  And yet snoring in women is often downplayed and even deliberately overlooked.  Regardless of the issue, snoring is a key symptom that doctors look for when screening someone for OSA or obstructive sleep apnea.

Left untreated, this serious sleeping disorder adversely impacts sleep quality and can lead to more serious health issues such as heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.  If you’re curious about female snoring and how to stop it or you want to learn more about an effective anti-snoring solution, there are facts and statistics that discuss this online as well as information about surgical and non-surgical treatments for chronic snoring.

Gender Distinctions of Snoring

When it comes to snoring, there are certain gender distinctions associated this sleep-disturbing noise.  First and foremost, men do snore more than women.  In fact, 40% of all men snore will roughly 30% of all women snore in comparison.  From a biological standpoint, men have narrower airways than women which cause them to snore more often as a result. Many studies have been conducted in the past about the ill-effects of snoring and associated brain and cardiac issues that enhances when the individual snores heavily. 

Consequently, when the airflow is forced through a narrowed opening, the surrounding tissues begin vibrating aggressively and snoring becomes increasingly louder as a result.  Statistically speaking, men drink alcohol more frequently than women and are more likely to drink it in excess.  Also, men tend to smoke more than women, thereby leaving them more prone to snoring. However, this is not related to gender specifically but that fact that excessive smoking and alcohol intake increases the chances of heavy snoring.

Snoring may be a “Red Flag”

Almost everyone, male or female, snores occasionally.  It commonly occurs in about 57% of all adult males and 40% of all adult females.  But according to a study done by the British Snoring & Sleep Apnea Association, males are twice as likely to be referred to sleep studies as women are.  This is primarily due to the fact that doctors often rely on men self-reporting their snoring issues.

On the other hand, women are reluctant to report their symptoms because they’re ashamed or embarrassed about it.  Herein lays the issue with female snoring and how to stop it.  While snoring can be an indication of OSA, an AASM or American Academy of Sleep Medicine study revealed that sleep apneas often goes undiagnosed in over 90% of all women who have moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Causes of Snoring in Women

So why do women snore? Numerous clinical studies have shown that there are several factors that can cause women to snore, including the following:

1. Obesity and Weight Gain:

Whether due to pregnancy or otherwise, extra layers of fat around the neck can cause pressure on the respiratory pathways. Additionally, when the airways are narrowed, the air passing through tends to vibrate the loose tissue in the nose and throat.

2. Hormonal Changes:

Usually, women tend to snore more during pregnancy, after weight gain or during menopause due to the irregulating estrogen and progesterone levels.

3. Aging:

As women age, the tissues and muscles loosen in the face and throat. The loose tissue inside the throat and nasal passages tend to vibrate with higher intensity, leading to snoring.

4. Nasal and Sinus Issues :

Respiratory ailments, allergies and blocked sinus can lead to snoring as the nasal passages maybe inflamed. The narrowing of the airways tends to make the inhalation and exhales difficult and the throat tissues tend to vibrate more leading to moderate to severe snoring at night.

5. Sleep Position:

Sleeping on the back, narrows the nasal passages as there is higher pressure on the neck and throat. Sleeping on the side helps to breathe better and snore less.

6. Lifestyle Factors:

Drinking alcohol, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and weight gain are various reasons to snore. Layers of fat in the neck and facial areas tend to constrict nasal passages and throat muscles, which inhibits proper breathing at night, leading to snoring.

7. Exhaustion :

Muscle tissues are much more relaxed when we’re exhausted.  As a result, this elevates the risk of snoring and can make it even worse.  When you’re tired, the larynx relaxes and leads to snoring.

8. Menopause :

Females tend to snore during menopause when the muscle tone of the throat is reduced.  During perimenopause, the ovaries reduce the amount of estrogen and progesterone that’s produced.  As a result, women typically report issues related to menopause such as difficulty sleeping (insomnia), hot flashes, interrupted breathing during sleep, and mood disorders.  In many instances, sleeping problems are usually accompanied by snoring and, in the more severe cases, obstructive sleep apnea.

9. Pregnancy :

Snoring during pregnancy is quite common.  This is usually caused by the expansion of blood vessels in the nasal passageways and the additional weight that a woman adds during pregnancy.

10. Sleep apnea :

OSA or obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder wherein breathing is often briefly and repeatedly interrupted when a person sleeps.  The term “apnea” refers to a pause in one’s breathing that can last 10 seconds or longer.

11. Weight gain :

This is a common reason that both men and women snore.  However, hormone imbalances during menopause and pregnancy are transitional phases wherein changes in a woman’s metabolic rate typically occur.  Snoring and weight gain are closely related in that excess weight often leads to skin and tissue build-up in the neck and throat.  The additional fat causes a narrowing of the airway which in turn hinders airflow and causes a person to snore.

How to Prevent and Treat Snoring for women

Here are some lifestyle changes that women can make to reduce or to treat snoring:

• End nasal congestion: Whether it is due to allergies or respiratory infection, take proper treatment and use nasal strips, saline rinses or nasal decongestant to stop snoring.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol: Smoking irritates the delicate nasal and throat tissues leading to swelling and narrowing of airways. While alcohol loosens the throat muscles that makes every breath vibrate the loose tissue, causing snoring.
• Try exercises and weight loss: Losing weight helps to melt away fat from the neck and throat area, tones muscle and helps to stop snoring
• Use a pillow: Sleeping on your side while elevating your head using a pillow can help you stop snoring.
• OTC anti-snoring aids: Whether you try a chin strap, mouth guard or anti-snoring nasal spray, there are many non-invasive, Over-the-Counter remedies to stop snoring.

Doctors and sleep specialists have made recommendations to help men and women stop snoring.  These include:

• avoiding alcohol and certain medications
• choosing the right pillows for keeping airways open
• controlling your weight
• maintaining better sleep hygiene
• sleeping on your side
• staying hydrated
• using antihistamines, nasal dilators, or nasal strips

In addition to the above, our Asonor Anti-snoring Solution has been proven effective in 3 out of every 4 cases studied (men and women alike).  While it may not cure the more severe cases of snoring, it will reduce the frequency of snoring episodes that you normally experience in a night.  With easy and quick application, you need to use it every night and find the difference as you sleep and breathe better. Not only will it help you stop snoring but will be able to sleep without any interruptions. That offers better quality sleep and productivity the next day.

For more information about Asonor Anti-snoring Solution visit our website or send your questions to [email protected]. Our business representatives are available online for your assistance and will answer your queries about the product, application and snoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is It Normal for Women to Snore?

It is common, but men tend to snore more than women statistically. What are the main causes of snoring in women? – It can be due to allergies, sinus anatomy, weight gain, hormonal changes in pregnancy or menopause, age, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

2. How can hormonal changes affect snoring in women?

Higher levels of estrogen and progesterone lead to inflammation of nasal mucus membranes and weight gain, leading to snoring. While during menopause, erratic levels of hormones lead to poor sleep quality, weight gain and that leads to snoring. With PCOS, you can have irregular periods, elevated levels of testosterone and lower progesterone levels, leading to snoring and a risk of sleep apnea.

3. Can sleep position affect snoring in women?

Yes, sleeping on your back makes the tongue fall back into the throat, narrowing your airways and leads to snoring. It is best to sleep on the side, or use sleep pillows to improve sleep position and breathe easy.

4. How does aging impact snoring in women?

Women tend to snore more as they age due to loss of muscle tone, menopause, weight gain, consumption of alcohol and intake of prescription medicine for various ailments.