Top 8 common causes of snoring

Reasons why you snore

Alcohol consumption

According to Webmd, drinking too much alcohol before bed can cause snoring. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles more than the chest muscles, which people use to breathe. In addition, alcohol reduces the body's natural defenses against airway obstruction, a common cause of snoring.

Chronic stuffy nose can contribute to an increased risk of snoring.

Nose problems

Chronic nasal congestion or a deviated septum between the nostrils (deviated nasal septum) may contribute to an increased risk of snoring. Also, when you have a cold or an allergy flare-up, the inside of your nose swells up. At that time, the nasal cavity does not have much room and you have to work harder to get the air in. This can cause the underlying tissue to vibrate, causing snoring. Turbinate hypertrophy is another condition that puts you at risk for inflammatory snoring. It causes swelling of the lining of the nasal passages, blocking the flow of air.

Sleeping position

According to the Cleveland Clinic, snoring is most frequent and loudest when sleeping on your back because gravity's effect on the throat narrows the airways. In the supine position, gravity allows the tongue to slide toward the back of the throat, restricting the flow of inhaled air. In addition, the tissues at the back of the throat are also drooping, causing an obstruction of the trachea.

Exhausted

People are more likely to have a stuffy nose when exhausted. Fatigue causes muscle strength to decrease, throat tissue becomes soft and makes more noise, especially during sleep.

Adults over 55 years old

As we age, gravity may be more affected. The muscles become weaker and throat tissue that used to be dormant begins to sag. After 55 years, the tongue also becomes more lazy. You lose nerve energy in your tongue, so you can't move it out of your tongue while you're sleeping.

Smokers are twice as likely to snore as other smokers.

Weight gain, obesity

In some people, fat accumulates at the base of the tongue or the back of the throat. This narrows the throat. The greater the outer neck circumference (40-43 cm), the greater the risk of apnea and internal snoring.

Pregnant

When you are pregnant, the level of progesterone in your body increases. This is the pregnancy hormone that helps nourish the developing fetus, and is also the cause of noise at night. It causes swelling of the filters, leading to nasal congestion and snoring.

Smoke

Smokers are twice as likely to snore as other smokers. Tobacco smoke irritates the lining of the nasal cavity and throat, causing swelling and inflammation. This clogs up, making it difficult to breathe through your nose. People who breathe in the smoke of other people smoke are also at risk of snoring.