People who snore are despised all the time though they can’t control it. It is not the snorer who suffers but the person sleeping next to them. Snorers are not even aware that they are robbing someone of their sleep. But why do people snore? Does it raise any health concerns? Let’s find out.
For people who snore, life becomes slightly more complicated as their better half turns into not so better half because they are unable to get a sound sleep. It is not only a problem for the better half or the people who share the room with you, but snoring might be an indication of a more significant health issue.
Let us first find out why do people snore, and then we will discuss the remedy for snoring.
Snoring is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea in medical terms and has various causes, which differ in their health strain. With increasing age, around 60% of men and 40% of women snore; in children, the value is 10%.
The typical snoring noise is caused by the fact that the anatomical structures of the upper respiratory tract are made to vibrate or oscillate by the surrounding air. However, the causes of the vibrations that arise can be different, but there is usually a narrowing of the airways.
Loud snoring indicates a narrowing of the airways, which makes it difficult for those affected to breathe while sleeping. The typical snoring noises come from the effort to breathe through the narrowed airways. The sleeping person tries to breathe through the open mouth.
It causes the air to vibrate. Although the actual noise does not come from the nose, the airflow in the nose may be changed in such a way that disturbances of the airflow can occur on lower floors.
The curvature of the nasal septum or oversized nasal turbines, but also temporary swelling or blockages due to a runny nose or an allergy, can be the cause of snoring.
Oversized Tonsils Can Cause Snoring
Not only the nose but also oversized tonsils can disrupt the airway. The tonsils on the top of the throat can also narrow the airway and lead to snoring or even sleep apnea, especially in children.
Nasal Polyps Can Cause Snoring
Nasal polyps are benign, soft, and water-rich growths in the area of the nasal mucosa. They can also cause annoying snoring. They grow from the paranasal sinuses into the nasal cavity, which hinders nasal breathing, and the person concerned prefers to breathe through the mouth, which promotes snoring.
The Tongue Can Cause Snoring
The tongue is the heaviest and largest anatomical structure in the airway. When relaxing, the base of the tongue can fall back, which narrows or even closes the airway. It becomes a bottleneck, which creates a lot of noise. The tongue is a common reason for snoring.
The Jaw Can Cause Snoring
Misaligned jaws can also be a reason for narrow airways. The area between the lower jaw and the back of the throat is significantly narrowed. Since the tongue is attached to the lower jaw, it hinders the flow of breath.
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Sleeping Position on Your Back
There is no doubt that snoring can occur in any sleeping position, but it is particularly common to sleep on your back. In addition to relaxing the muscles, Gravity, causes the tongue and lower jaw to fall back. The airway narrows, and the air vibrates, which creates the snoring sound.
Obesity is a Serious Cause.
A double chin can be harmful to snoring because it pushes back the base of the tongue and increases the pressure on the airways. Any jiggly fat can also press inwards and thus restrict the airways.
Snoring from overweight is not uncommon as almost every second adult is at least slightly overweight.
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol makes our muscle tension weaker. Not only do we have less control over our movements, but the tension in the breathing tube decreases, which makes it easier for it to collapse. If this happens, the usual pattern follows, which is the airways narrow, the air begins to vibrate, snoring occurs.
Medication for Relaxation
Sedatives, muscle relaxation supplements, or sleeping pills all reduce muscle tension, which can trigger or promote snoring.
Smoke
Smoking my cause thickening of the mucous membrane or a chronic inflammatory reaction, with swelling that narrows the airway.
Age
As we age, the tissue slackens and becomes softer. The walls of the respiratory tract collapse more easily, and snoring occurs. That is why snoring increases with age.
Gender
While men snore more often in the first half of life due to the tendency to become overweight or drink more alcohol, the tide turns from the second half of life. The female hormone estrogen previously provided tighter tissues for women. Estrogen’s production reduces after menopause, causing women to snore just as much or even more than men.
Pregnancy
Snoring is promoted by two factors in pregnancy: First, the hormonal change softens the tissue so that it can stretch during pregnancy. In addition, there is an increase in weight and water retention, which further worsens the space in the neck area and promotes snoring.
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How to Stop Snoring
– A different sleeping position often helps against snoring, for example, the side position.
– So-called sleep pads should help against sagging cheek muscles.
– Surgery usually helps if the tonsils or polyps are too large.
– Since snoring is also related to weight, overweight people are often affected. Weight loss helps.
– Alcohol should not be consumed two hours before going to bed. It reduces the chances of relaxing the muscles in the airways.
The deterioration in the quality of sleep can lead to symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, nervousness, and difficulty concentrating. Studies also indicate that the risk of certain diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke increases. It is because the lack of oxygen during the night triggers a considerable stress reaction. Now, when you know why do people snore and how to stop snoring, you should be able to take reasonable precautions to ensure not only you stay healthy, but people who live with you also get a full night’s sleep.