Snoring and its causes

We can choose to forego a lot in our lives, but eating and sleeping are the two basic physiological needs we all have to survive. Good sleep is not something everyone is blessed with.

Snoring can affect memory, motor skills, mood and is a global societal problem. It disrupts family relationships, affects cohabitation, work life and road safety. Snoring can lead to negative health problems in the long term.

Sleep clinics offer effective treatments with CPAP or an apnea mouth guard when diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) – but not everyone knows that this option exists. How much you snore depends on your anatomy, weight, lifestyle, age and how long you have been snoring.

The weight of the snorer plays a big role. If we are fat on the outside, we are also fat on the inside. Even slim and normally built people can have fat pads along the throat and therefore snore more. Anatomy thus plays an important role.

Snoring occurs in the tissues that vibrate in the upper airway.

When you fall asleep, the muscles in your body relax. We have a lot of soft tissue in our throat, and when the muscles relax, the airways are affected. The walls of the throat become loose, the tongue sinks back, and the soft part of the palate becomes floppy. If it becomes cramped enough, it starts to vibrate and you snore. The vibrations can occur high up in the nose, in the soft palate, or behind the tongue, but most often it is a combination of these.

Since the vibrations of snoring often cause some swelling in the throat, it is a good idea to try a new method/treatment for at least a few weeks before dismissing it. Another reason is that snoring can vary in severity from night to night, depending on body position, nasal congestion, fatigue, or alcohol intake.

Smoking worsens snoring, smokers experience irritated mucous membranes and increased mucus production.

Sleeping pills, sedatives or muscle relaxants, and alcohol make snoring worse.

If you sleep with your mouth open, the tongue tends to fall backwards, which causes the airways to become narrower.

When sleeping, breathing should be done through the nose for several reasons. The nose cleans, regulates temperature, and humidifies the inhaled air. You get better oxygenation and sleep more peacefully.

If you have difficulty breathing through your nose, you should seek help from an ear/nose/throat doctor.