Snore-Gonomics - Snoring

Causes of Snoring

Causes of Snoring

Snoring is caused when there is a narrowed passageway between the nose and the throat. The passageway narrows because the muscles in your throat are more relaxed when you sleep. When inhaling oxygen while the passageway is narrowed, air will have to move faster than before, and will hit the tissues of the soft palate and the uvula with more force causing vibrations which in turn create snoring sounds.

For many people, snoring is not a major health problem, and most people snore at least occasionally. Men and overweight people are more likely to snore and snore more often. The frequency and intensity of snoring will likely increase with age if not dealt with at an earlier stage.

There can be many causes to why one snores when they sleep. Anything that causes the air passageways to narrow, will likely cause snoring.

Substances that promote muscle relaxation, such as alcohol or drugs that promote drowsiness, will cause your throat muscles to relax thus narrowing the air passageway and also causes the tongue to relax and fall back limiting the air passageway, thus encouraging snoring.

Snoring can be brought on by a stuffy nose, which can be brought on by a cold or sinuses. When one’s nose becomes stuffy, less air can go through the nasal passage so the throat has to pull air in through the mouth with extra force, which will in turn cause snoring.

The physical makeup of your body can be a cause of one’s snoring problems; if one is overweight there will be more fatty tissues in the throat, which means a narrower air passageway. Also, if one has a long uvula and/or soft palate, it will cause a narrower air passage and an increased likelihood of snoring. Other physical characteristics, which may bring about snoring, include large adenoids and large tonsils, a long tongue, a small lower jaw or a deviated nasal septum.

Asthma and/or smoking can also increase the chance of one snoring due to the irritation and constriction of the air passageways. Sleeping on your back makes one more likely to snore because gravity pulls the tongue and jaw down to the back of the mouth and limits the air passageway.

Obstructed Air Passages

One of the things that snoring can do to a person is something referred to as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). If you have been diagnosed with this condition, you are no doubt extremely concerned and are probably already getting medical assistance.

The explanation as to why a person snores is an incomplete obstruction of the upper airway, resulting in intermittent snorting, as well as gasping that occur out when the sufferer has to make an effort to breathe. In cases of extremely loud snoring, you may be certain that it is more than just a loud noise and is most likely Sleep Apnea.

Normally during sleep, the muscles which control the tongue and soft palate hold the airway open:

Healthy upper airway

If these muscles relax, the airway narrows, causing snoring and breathing difficulties:

Partially obstructed upper airway

If these muscles relax too much, the airway can become completely blocked, preventing breathing:

Obstructed upper airway