What Causes People to Snore

When a person enters a deep stage of sleep, the muscles in the tongue, mouth, and throat relax, and this is what causes people to snore. As the tissues in the throat relax, they partially obstruct the airway and vibrate when air flows in and out. This vibration is what produces the sound associated with snoring.

It is possible to treat the causes of snoring and improve sleep.

Snoring may occur occasionally, or it can be a chronic and disruptive condition. Snoring occurs when the airways narrow due to poor sleep posture or soft tissue abnormalities in the throat. While most snoring is harmless, some causes of snoring are potentially serious and all snoring can interfere with restful sleep. Understanding what causes people to snore is the first step toward seeking a diagnosis and treatment.

• Heredity plays a role in snoring, and children of parents who snore are more likely to snore themselves. According to the Mayo Clinic, some conditions that can trigger snoring, such as a cleft palate, enlarged adenoids, and a narrow throat have a genetic basis.

• Age contributes to snoring, with the rate of snoring increasing after middle age. As you grow older, the muscle tone in your throat decreases and your throat becomes narrower. These changes can cause snoring.

• Gender plays a role in snoring, with men being twice as likely to snore as women, according to the Vancouver Sleep & Breathing Centre. This is because men typically have narrower airways than women do.

• Nasal problems, including allergies, infections, and a deviated nasal septum, can cause blocked airways and make breathing more difficult. Asthma, colds, sinus infections, and other conditions that cause nasal or sinus congestion can all lead to snoring.

• Obesity is a major risk factor for snoring. Poor muscle tone and a large amount of fatty tissue both contribute to snoring. Obesity also increases the risk of developing sleep apnea, a very serious and potentially fatal cause of snoring.

• Smoking and drinking alcohol both contribute to muscle relaxation and breathing impairment. Smoking also increases congestion, and this can trigger or worsen snoring. Many prescription and over-the-counter medications affect the body in ways similar to alcohol.

• Poor sleep posture, such as back sleeping, increases snoring by relaxing the throat tissues. These tissues may then block the airways and interfere with breathing.

In some cases, frequent or loud snoring may be a sign of a serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea. In cases of sleep apnea, the throat tissues completely block the airway and stop breathing. Loud snoring followed by periods of breathing cessation and silence for 10 or more seconds characterizes sleep apnea and distinguishes it from other causes of snoring. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to extreme fatigue, headaches, heart problems, and other complications.

Several effective treatment options for snoring are available. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of snoring.

If snoring happens more than occasionally, or interferes with sleep, medical evaluation and treatment is necessary. Unless the cause of your snoring is obvious during a physical examination, you will need to see an otolaryngologist, or ENT, and a sleep specialist for further testing.

In many cases, lifestyle changes may be sufficient to treat snoring. Losing weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and changing sleeping positions are effective at treating occasional snoring. For some people, the use of pillow wedges can help prevent back sleeping.

Medications are useful when nasal congestion, infections, or asthma cause or contribute to snoring. Nasal decongestant sprays can loosen nasal and sinus congestion and relieve blocked airways. Antihistamines and other allergy medications are helpful for some people. Using a humidifier at night and wearing adhesive nasal strips may also be beneficial.

Oral appliances are fitted mouthpieces that help advance soft palate and tongue position to keep the airways open. A dentist prescribes and fits oral appliances, and regular dental checkups are important to maintain proper fit and control of snoring.

Surgical treatments for snoring include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), laser surgery, and radiofrequency tissue ablation. UPPP involves tightening and trimming excess soft tissue under general anesthesia. During laser surgery for snoring, which is an outpatient procedure, a surgeon uses a hand-held laser to remove the uvula and shorten the soft palate. This procedure is effective at enlarging the airway, but you may require multiple treatments to achieve full benefits. Radiofrequency tissue ablation, or somnoplasty, utilizes a low-intensity radiofrequency signal to remove a portion of the soft palate. It is a newer treatment for snoring performed as an outpatient procedure.

CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, involves wearing a pressurized mask over the nose or face during sleep. The pressurized air forces the airways to remain open to improve breathing and eliminate snoring. CPAP is the preferred treatment option for snoring caused by sleep apnea.

In addition to interfering with restful sleep and lowering daily productivity, habitual snoring may contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Children with sleep apnea are at greater risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other health problems.

Understanding what causes people to snore, and seeking help for frequent snoring, can improve the quality of your sleep and help prevent a host of negative health consequences.

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