What are the Causes of Snoring?

Why Understanding the Cause of Snoring Matters

It is important to understand the reason behind your snoring for effective treatment. There may be many factors for snoring, including obesity, nasal congestion, consumption of alcohol, sleep apnea and even allergies. Knowing about the root cause of your individual snoring is important to get the right treatment in time – make lifestyle changes, get surgery, use anti-snoring devices or consult with a sleep specialist. Without addressing the snoring, you may be at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, strain personal relationships and be sleep deprived.

Top Causes of Snoring

An average human being experiences the occurrence of snoring at least once in their lifetime. Snoring is a nuisance that unconsciously hinders sleep and causes an inconvenience to those around as well. Snoring is prevalent amongst men and there have been studies stating that it has caused several marital problems. It is a common problem that does have a huge impact in your life; both physically and emotionally. Snoring is a grunting sound that a person lets out during his or her sleep when the air flow is hindered. While in sleep, the throat muscles can relax which causes the tongue to move backwards, thus causing a total disruption in the air flow. The immediate fix is to tighten the throat muscles in order to provide a smooth pathway for the air to move through the nostrils.

People have accepted snoring as a part of their sleep cycle and not many people bother to ask a very important question, ‘Why do I snore?’. In order to solve the problem of snoring, you will have to comprehend the factors that cause the problem in the first place. Here are some reasons why snoring occurs:

Obesity

Being obese can lead to improper sleep due to persistent snoring. Regular exercise and clean eating can help create a better lifestyle which will in the long run combat snoring.

Age

A factor you cannot prevent. You just have to change your lifestyle to incorporate throat exercises.

Excessive alcohol and smoking

They have done no one any good. Just stop and you will see how your life turns around.

Sleep posture

Sleeping on your back can lead to the relaxation of your throat muscles. It is advised to sleep on your side.

Allergies and nasal congestion

Sometimes a cold or flu can lead to mild snoring. This factor can be easily managed with the help of steams and nasal sprays.

Medication

Certain medicines like tranquilizers can lead to snoring.

These are just the common reasons of snoring. There are many others that can really tamper with your health. Take action and eliminate snoring totally.

Can Snoring Be Cured?

Based on the cause of snoring, snoring can be reduced or stopped. It helps to lose weight, avoiding alcohol before sleeping, while sleeping on the side can benefit. With CPAP therapy and use of anti-surgery device, various medical treatments are available including surgery for enlarged tonsils and adenoids. These offer long-term relief for snoring. Oftentimes, snoring is due to allergies or temporary nasal congestion, which resolves on its own. For chronic or heavy snoring that might be due to sleep apnea, you need to consult with a doctor.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Snoring

It is a fact that lifestyle changes and home remedies can reduce snoring effectively. Sleeping on your side ensures that your nasal passages and airways are open. It is best to avoid smoking and alcohol as it causes inflammation and over-relaxes the throat muscles. Use a humidifier and stay hydrated as it eases airflow. Use nasal sprays and strips to breathe easy. Keep a pillow to elevate your head to reduce throat tissue vibrations that aid snoring.

When Should You See a Doctor for Snoring?

If the snoring has started to disrupt your sleep or you wake up choking and gasping for breath, you need to see a doctor for snoring as you exhibit signs of sleep apnea, a serious disorder. Other signs that require medical consultation include difficulty in focus and concentration, morning headaches, daytime drowsiness, fatigue and sleep deprivation. If you or your child snores, it helps to have early diagnosis and treatment to improve quality of sleep.

Conclusion

The sound that is caused due to the air forcing it way through narrow airway and loose throat tissue is termed as snoring. The obstructed airflow during sleep is due to sleeping on your back, nasal congestion, obesity, anatomical anomalies such as deviated septum, and enlarged tonsils. Muscle relaxation and aging contributes to snoring. That is why understanding the cause of snoring is essential for the treatment to stop snoring.