What Causes Snoring? 7 Reasons That Can Make It Worse

Have you ever wondered why some people snore while others don't? Snoring is more than just a noisy habit; it can be a sign of underlying health issues and can significantly disrupt both your sleep and that of your partner. Understanding the root causes of snoring can help in finding effective solutions and improving your overall sleep quality.

1

Snorer and Snoring: How Your Body's Structure Affects Snoring

The physical layout of your airway and surrounding tissues can play a big role in the sounds you make while you sleep. Understanding these structural factors is key to tackling the root causes of snoring and finding effective solutions.

Airway Structure

1. Nasal Septum Deviation

When the cartilage dividing your nostrils, known as the nasal septum, is crooked or off-centre, it can obstruct your nasal passages. This obstruction makes it more difficult to breathe through your nose, forcing you to breathe through your mouth instead.

The increased airflow through the mouth causes turbulence, leading to vibrations in the throat, which produce the snoring sound. This condition can be congenital or result from injury, and in severe cases, may require surgical correction.

2. Throat and Tongue Position

During sleep, the muscles in your throat and tongue naturally relax. However, if these muscles become overly relaxed, they can collapse into the airway, causing a partial or complete blockage. This obstruction disrupts the smooth flow of air, causing the tissues to vibrate, which results in snoring.

This phenomenon is particularly common in individuals who sleep on their backs, as gravity causes the relaxed tissues to fall back more easily into the airway.

Throat and Nasal Issues

1. Throat Tissue and Muscle Tone

Weak muscle tone and an excess of soft tissue in the throat can significantly narrow the airway. This narrowing increases the likelihood of the airway collapsing during sleep, which causes vibrations and, consequently, snoring.

Factors that contribute to weak muscle tone and excess tissue include age, weight gain, and genetic predisposition. Regular throat exercises aimed at strengthening these muscles can help reduce snoring by maintaining a more open airway during sleep.

2. Nasal Congestion

Conditions such as allergies, colds, or chronic nasal blockages can lead to nasal congestion, forcing you to breathe through your mouth. Mouth breathing bypasses the nasal passages, which normally filter, warm, and humidify the air.

Without these functions, the airflow through the mouth can dry out and irritate the tissues in the throat, leading to vibrations and snoring. Managing nasal congestion through medication, nasal strips, or other treatments can help reduce snoring by promoting nasal breathing.

2

What Can Make Snoring Worse? 7 Reasons You May Not Know

The impact of your daily habits and overall lifestyle is crucial in determining your snoring level too.

Aside from overall lifestyle such as smoking, consuming alcohol, sleep deprivation and obesity, You are more likely to snore if you experience these issues:

1. Allergies and Congestion

When allergies or a cold inflame the lining of your nose, it narrows the nasal passages. This restricted airflow makes it difficult to breathe through your nose. As a result, your body naturally adapts by breathing through your mouth, causing vibrations in the relaxed throat tissues, which can lead to snoring.

2. Sleep Apnea

One of the most common causes for snoring, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterised by interruptions in breathing during sleep. Your airway becomes blocked, causing you to temporarily stop breathing. When breathing resumes, it often produces a gasping or snorting sound, commonly associated with snoring. Factors such as weight gain and enlarged tonsils can exacerbate sleep apnea.

3. Enlarged Tonsils or Adenoids

Located at the back of the throat and behind the nose, tonsils and adenoids are lymphoid tissues. When enlarged, they can obstruct the airway, particularly in children. The resulting turbulence as air struggles to pass through contributes to snoring.

4. Deviated Septum

The septum, the wall dividing the nostrils, can be crooked or misaligned, a condition known as a deviated septum. This structural abnormality narrows one nasal passage, forcing you to breathe primarily through the other. The increased effort required for breathing can lead to snoring.

5. Acid Reflux (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus, the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach. This acid irritates the throat tissues, causing swelling and inflammation. The resulting narrowed and inflamed airway can vibrate more easily during sleep, contributing to snoring.

6. Hormonal Changes (Menopause)

Menopause, characterised by declining oestrogen levels, can affect the throat. Oestrogen helps maintain muscle tone, including in the throat. As oestrogen levels decrease, throat muscles may weaken, contributing to a narrower airway and increased snoring.

7. Sleeping on your back

Sleeping on your back often contributes to snoring. In this position, gravity pulls the tongue and soft palate towards the back of your throat, narrowing the airway. This obstruction hinders airflow, causing the throat tissues to vibrate and produce snoring sounds.

Do people snore cures eventually?

Snoring is generally a persistent issue that doesn't spontaneously resolve. While temporary improvements might occur due to factors like weight loss or changes in sleep position, the underlying causes often remain. To effectively address snoring, it's crucial to identify and treat the root cause, which may require professional medical evaluation.

3

6 Methods to Fix Snoring: Snoring & Potential Interventions

Snoring can often be attributed to a variety of factors, and addressing these can help reduce its occurrence:

1. Nasal Strips and Dilators

Nasal strips and dilators are designed to address snoring by improving airflow through the nasal passages.

• Nasal Strips: These adhesive strips are placed across the bridge of the nose to gently open the nostrils. By reducing nasal congestion, they can help prevent mouth breathing and reduce snoring.
• Nasal Dilators: These small, flexible devices are inserted into the nostrils to widen the nasal passages. They can be made of plastic, silicone, or metal and come in various sizes to fit different users.

Note: While these options can provide relief for some people, they may not be effective for everyone. It's essential to consider the underlying cause of snoring before relying solely on nasal strips or dilators.

2. Oral Appliances

Oral appliances, often prescribed by dentists or sleep specialists, are custom-made devices designed to address snoring by repositioning the jaw or tongue during sleep.

• Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs): These appliances gently shift the lower jaw forward, preventing the tongue from obstructing the airway.
• Tongue Retaining Devices (TRDs): These devices hold the tongue in place, preventing it from collapsing into the throat.

It's crucial to consult with a qualified professional to determine if an oral appliance is suitable and to ensure proper fitting.

3. Airway Reshaping

For severe cases of snoring or sleep apnea, surgical interventions may be considered.

• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): This procedure involves removing or modifying excess tissue in the throat, including the uvula, soft palate, and tonsils, to improve airflow.
• Radiofrequency Ablation: This minimally invasive procedure uses heat to shrink excess tissue in the throat, reducing vibrations and snoring.

Surgical options are typically reserved for cases where other treatments have failed and should be discussed thoroughly with a qualified medical professional.

4. Fotona 4D NightLase Snoring Treatment

Fotona 4D NightLase is a cutting-edge, non-invasive laser treatment designed to alleviate snoring. Targeting the soft tissues at the back of the throat, including the uvula and soft palate, the treatment stimulates collagen production, resulting in a tightening and firming effect. This tissue transformation is crucial as it reduces vibrations that lead to snoring.

By improving airflow and reducing tissue vibration, Fotona 4D NightLase offers a promising solution for individuals seeking to overcome snoring without undergoing surgical procedures. This innovative treatment presents a comfortable and effective alternative to traditional snoring remedies, providing a potential path to quieter nights and improved sleep quality.

5. Sleep Study

A sleep study, also known as a polysomnography, monitors your sleep patterns, brain activity, heart rate, breathing, and oxygen levels to diagnose sleep disorders like sleep apnea. The sleep specialist can evaluate your symptoms, recommend appropriate treatments, and provide personalised guidance.

6. CPAP Therapy

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the gold standard treatment for sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder often associated with snoring.

• How it Works: A CPAP machine delivers a steady stream of air through a mask worn during sleep, preventing the airway from collapsing and ensuring uninterrupted breathing.
• Benefits: CPAP therapy not only reduces snoring but also improves overall sleep quality, reduces daytime fatigue, and lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health complications.

7. Sleep Position Aids

Body pillows offer supportive comfort, gently encouraging side sleeping rather than back sleeping, a common culprit of snoring.

Back sleeping often leads to airway obstruction as gravity pulls the tongue and soft palate backward. By maintaining a side sleeping position, body pillows can help to keep the airway open, reducing the likelihood of snoring.  

Similarly, sleeping wedges elevate the upper body, creating a slight incline. This elevated position helps to reduce pressure on the airway, allowing for easier breathing and potentially mitigating snoring. By preventing the tongue and soft palate from collapsing backward, sleeping wedges can provide relief for some snorers.  

8. Over-the-Counter Remedies

Throat sprays and lozenges offer temporary relief for snoring by targeting throat irritation. These products often contain soothing ingredients that can reduce inflammation in the throat, a common factor contributing to snoring. By calming irritated throat tissues, they may help to reduce snoring by minimising vibrations.

Nasal decongestants can also provide temporary relief by improving airflow through the nasal passages. Nasal congestion can contribute to snoring as it forces mouth breathing, increasing the likelihood of vibrations in the throat. By reducing congestion, nasal decongestants can help to promote nasal breathing and alleviate snoring.

4

Enjoy A Good Sleep With Your Bed Partner Today!

Snoring is a common sleep disturbance affecting many people. Its causes are diverse, ranging from lifestyle factors to underlying health conditions. While various approaches, such as lifestyle modifications and positional therapy, can help manage snoring, some cases may require medical intervention.

For those seeking a non-invasive solution, Fotona 4D NightLase offers a promising approach. This innovative treatment can effectively address snoring by tightening the tissues in the throat, improving airflow, and reducing vibrations. If you're tired of being disturbed by snoring, consider exploring Fotona 4D NightLase as a potential solution!