Snoring – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Snoring happens when air moves past loose tissues in the throat during sleep, causing a vibrating sound. Most people snore occasionally, but some experience it regularly. This common issue may sometimes signal health problems and can disturb a sleeping partner.
Several lifestyle adjustments can help reduce snoring. Losing weight, avoiding alcoholic drinks before bedtime, and sleeping on your side instead of your back often make a difference.
For persistent snoring, medical options exist. Various devices and surgical procedures can help minimize disruptive snoring sounds. However, these medical interventions aren’t necessary or appropriate for everyone who snores.
Signs of Sleep Disturbance
Snoring can sometimes point to a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While not all snorers have this disorder, certain warning signs suggest you might need medical help.
People with OSA often have noisy snoring followed by quiet periods when breathing stops briefly. These pauses might end with loud gasping or snorting as breathing restarts.
This pattern can repeat many times throughout the night, with breathing problems happening at least five times per hour.
Common signs include:
- Breathing pauses that others notice while you sleep
- Feeling very tired during the day
- Trouble focusing on tasks
- Headaches when you wake up
- Sore throat in the morning
- Restless sleep with lots of tossing and turning
- Choking or gasping sounds at night
- High blood pressure
- Chest pain during sleep
- Extremely loud snoring that bothers your sleep partner
In children, watch for:
- Poor attention span
- Behavior problems
- Falling grades at school
When to Get Medical Help
Visit your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. They might mean your snoring is linked to sleep apnea.
If your child snores, talk to their doctor about it. Children can develop sleep apnea too. Enlarged tonsils or weight issues can narrow a child’s airway and lead to breathing problems during sleep.
Causes
Snoring happens due to several reasons related to how our bodies work and our lifestyle choices. When someone falls into deep sleep, the muscles in their mouth, tongue, and throat become more relaxed.
This relaxation can partially block the airway, causing tissue to vibrate as air passes through.
The narrower the airway becomes, the stronger the airflow must be, leading to louder snoring sounds. Several factors can make this narrowing worse:
Physical Features
- A thick, low soft palate in the mouth
- Extra throat tissue in people carrying excess weight
- An elongated uvula (the hanging tissue at the back of the throat)
Lifestyle Factors
- Drinking alcohol before bed relaxes throat muscles
- Not getting enough sleep causes more throat relaxation
Health Conditions
- Ongoing nasal congestion
- A deviated nasal septum (crooked wall between nostrils)
Sleep Position
Sleeping on your back often makes snoring worse. In this position, gravity pulls the relaxed throat tissues downward, which narrows the airway more.
These causes don’t always work alone. Someone might snore because of both their mouth structure and having a few drinks before bed. Or they might snore only when sleeping on their back while having nasal congestion from allergies.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chance of snoring. Men snore more often than women. People who carry extra weight face a higher risk because fat around the neck can squeeze the airway.
Some physical features play a role too. Having a narrow airway due to large tonsils, adenoids, or a long soft palate makes snoring more likely.
Drinking alcohol relaxes throat muscles and can lead to more snoring. Nasal problems like a deviated septum or chronic congestion also increase risk.
Family history matters as well. If your parents or siblings snore or have sleep apnea, you might be more likely to develop these conditions too.
Complications
Habitual snoring can lead to several health issues. This is especially true when the snoring is linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
People with untreated snoring problems may experience:
- Excessive daytime drowsiness
- Increased irritability and anger
- Problems with focus and concentration
- Higher risk of cardiovascular problems such as hypertension and stroke
Children suffering from OSA may develop behavioral issues. These include learning difficulties and aggressive tendencies.
The sleep deprivation caused by snoring and OSA also increases the likelihood of car accidents. This is due to reduced alertness while driving.
