Snoring aka snoring is a noisy sound that comes out of the respiratory tract during sleep due to the narrowing of the respiratory tract. The cause of snoring or snoring can be due to sleeping position, breathing problems, excess weight, age, to the anatomy of the mouth.
Table of Content
1. Why does snoring happen?
2. What causes snoring or snoring during sleep?
3. How to get rid of the causes of snoring during sleep?
4. When should you talk to your doctor about snoring sleep habits?
Snoring aka snoring is a noisy sound that comes out of the respiratory tract during sleep. This condition can be experienced by anyone so it tends to be considered harmless. However, the cause of snoring can also indicate a serious medical condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
If you occasionally snore, of course this is not a serious problem and may only be limited to disturbing your sleeping partner.
However, if snoring becomes a regular habit during sleep, not only will your partner’s sleep pattern be disturbed, your sleep quality may not be optimal.
Therefore, it is important to know the causes of snoring in full in the following article.
Why does snoring happen?
Snoring can occur when you are unable to exhale freely through your nose during sleep.
Snoring is caused by the narrowing of the airways around the throat.
When you sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth relax or relax.
The tongue will fall backward and the airways around the throat will narrow.
The narrowed airways cause the air to apply more pressure to be pushed out.
This great pressure causes the airways to vibrate and produce a loud, annoying sound.
What causes snoring or snoring during sleep?
Men usually snore more often than women. There are certain conditions and health problems that can cause snoring or snoring to occur. Here are the causes of snoring or snoring in full.
1. Anatomy of the mouth
One of the causes of snoring experienced by some people is due to the anatomy of the mouth they have.
In the mouth, there is a tissue that hangs behind it and leads to the throat or also known as the uvula.
If a person has a uvula that is too long or soft, the airway between the nose and throat will be narrower so it will make a vibrating sound as air passes through it.
Several other conditions, such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids, can also make it easier for a person to sleep with snoring.
2. Nose shape
The shape of the nose also seems to be the cause of snoring. People who have thin walls between the nostrils that are not properly formed are at a higher risk of snoring.
The same thing can happen if a person has an injury or sore on the nose.
3. Breathing problems
Breathing problems, such as nasal congestion from the flu, cold, allergies, sinusitis, or others, can make it difficult to breathe.
The reason is, the flow of air through the airways becomes disturbed so that it becomes the cause of snoring during sleep.
Likewise in children, the cause of snoring can be due to allergic conditions, fever, to infections of the respiratory tract.
How to deal with snoring due to nasal congestion can use over-the-counter medicines at pharmacies or prescription drugs.
4. Sleeping position
The cause of snoring is caused by sleeping position, especially sleeping on your back, because it can make the snoring sound louder.
This can happen because gravity pulls the tissue around the airway down, making the airway narrower.
A study in the journal Sleep proves that the frequency and intensity of snoring will decrease in some people when changing the sleeping position to be sideways, or stacking 2-3 pillows so that the head position is higher.
5. Excess weight (obesity)
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience snoring while sleeping.
This is because of the excess fat in the body, some of which accumulates in the respiratory tract and at the base of the tongue. This buildup can compress the passages in the throat during sleep
As a result, the ability of the muscles to keep the airway open is compromised and makes the airways narrow.
The narrow respiratory tract makes the vibrations that occur in that area become louder.
In addition, the accumulation of fat in the respiratory tract can also cause disturbances in the oropharynx (part of the throat) during sleep, causing snoring sounds.
When obese people are in a lying position, the fatty tissue in the neck will also compress the respiratory tract. This makes the flow of air in the respiratory tract to be disturbed.
The way to get rid of snoring caused by excess weight is to exercise regularly.
Although it doesn’t lead to drastic weight loss right away, it can help reduce snoring.
Because, exercise can help build muscles in the body, including the muscles in the throat. Thus, airflow can run more smoothly and snoring can be reduced.
6. Age
Did you know that the cause of snoring can also be due to older age? The reason is, with age, the tongue and the muscles surrounding the airways may weaken.
Loose airway muscles are more prone to vibrating when air flows through them. As a result, it will be more prone to produce snoring sounds.
7. The habit of drinking alcohol
The habit of drinking alcohol can be the cause of why you often snore while sleeping. Because the effects of alcohol consumption can make the respiratory tract muscles relax.
This loose muscle makes it easier for the airways to close and the airflow narrows, resulting in a snoring sound.
8. Have a history of obstructive sleep apnea (OAS)
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition when airflow during sleep stops for 10 seconds. This condition can occur at least 5 times during his sleep.
People who have OSA will experience total or partial blockage of their airway repeatedly during sleep.
As a result, airflow is blocked and causes snoring.
If left unchecked, OAS can lead to impaired blood flow and heart swelling with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
9. Other health conditions
Other health conditions also contribute to the cause of snoring. For example, in women who are pregnant.
Pregnant women tend to snore because of swollen nasal passages. In addition, weight gain during pregnancy also pushes the diaphragm, resulting in a snoring sound as air enters and leaves the lungs.
People who have hypothyroidism are also prone to snoring. Hypothyroidism is a condition when the thyroid gland cannot function properly, resulting in insufficient thyroid hormone.
A study published in the journal Chest conducted a study of 20 people with hyperthyroidism. As a result, they often snore while sleeping.
How to get rid of the causes of snoring during sleep?
How to eliminate the cause of snoring during sleep depends on the cause and severity.
If it’s still mild, you may be asked to change your sleeping position or take certain medications if you’re having breathing problems.
In severe conditions, the installation of a device or machine in the mouth and nose such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be a solution.
If the cause of snoring is related to the condition of the uvula in the mouth to the shape of the nose, surgery may be needed.
However, there are several lifestyles that can help reduce the cause of snoring during sleep, including:
- Lose weight for those who are obese
- Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages before bed
- Elevate your head with a pillow while sleeping
- Sleep on your side
When should you talk to your doctor about snoring sleep habits?
Although rarely dangerous, you still need to be vigilant if the cause of snoring is due to a dangerous disease, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
OSA not only causes the usual snoring sound, but it can cause a loud, hoarse voice.
In fact, not infrequently the habit of snoring caused by OSA can wake a partner or other person who is fast asleep.
OSA can also cause a person to often snore during sleep until choking or shortness of breath can be very dangerous.
Therefore, you need to immediately consult a doctor if the habit of frequent snoring during sleep is accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Excessive sleepiness during the day
- Difficult to concentrate
- Headache in the morning
- Sore throat when you wake up
- Restless while sleeping
- High blood pressure
- Chest pain at night
- Your snoring is so loud that it disturbs other people’s sleep
Snoring or snoring is actually normal. Although not necessarily dangerous, if frequent snoring during sleep can interfere with sleep quality and those around you, you should immediately consult a doctor.