Why Do People Snore?

Snoring can be defined as the noise produced when an individual
breathes during his or her sleep. This breathing (particularly the
process of inhalation) creates a vibration in the soft palate and uvula.

Those vibrations create a sound as the tissues contact one another in
the back of the throat and in the nose.

The uvula (the hanging entity in the back of your throat) and the soft
palate (the soft spot on the roof of your mouth) aren’t the only body
parts involved in snoring, though.

Your adenoids and tonsils may also be involved in the noisemaking
activity.

That’s one reason why many non-snorers are known to create a
racket when they are sick or congested.

There are a variety of potential snoring causes:

1. You may have a naturally narrow throat. When you relax the natural
closing of the airway may encourage snoring. This genetic cause of
snoring probably isn’t the most common explanation for a loud
evening, but it may be part of the story.

2. Carrying extra weight or fat in the neck can also cause a more
restricted airway. That will, obviously, encourage snoring.

3. Age naturally creates a narrowing of air passages, which makes
snoring more likely. This is why many women who have slept silently
for decades suddenly find themselves snoring after menopause.

4.Smoking is a potential cause of snoring. When you smoke, muscles
relax. We’ve discussed the role that can play in the process.
Additionally, inhalation of smoke creates lung and nasal congestion,
which will also spur snoring. Many studies indicate that second-hand
smoke exposure can also turn otherwise silent sleepers into snorers.

5. Irregularities with the nasal passageways may cause labored
breathing and snoring. This may be a genetic situation or it may be
caused by a facial trauma of some sort.

6. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids may create airway obstructions that
lead to more vibrations and, thus, more snoring. This can happen in
cases of infection (such as tonsillitis) or when a person simply has
adenoids or tonsils that are larger than average.

7. Those with long soft palates or extended uvulas are far more likely
to suffer from snoring than are others.

8. Consumption of alcohol can cause snoring, as can some types of
medication. Again, the culprit is over-relaxation which leads to
additional airway closure.

9. Sleep position can play a huge role in snoring. When you sleep on
your back, your throat’s flesh may relax and block your airway more
than when on your stomach or side. Propping your head up on
pillows may also create an angle that will contribute to blocking your
airways, encouraging snoring.

Snoring may be common, but it isn’t normal. It is symptomatic of a
problem and should be taken seriously.

How To Stop Snoring