Snoring is a problem, but it’s not so much a problem for you as for the person sleeping next to you. You may find that you are driving your spouse or partner mad at night, even though you sleep soundly.
However, the truth is that snoring actually interferes with your sleep, which means that you aren’t sleeping properly.
Want to know why you’re snoring? Check out some of the causes of snoring below to see if any of them apply:
Obesity and Lack of Exercise – Those that are overweight tend to snore more, and this is because the fat around their neck, head, and chest tends to press down on their airways at night.
This is more of a problem for men, as men tend to put on the pounds around the neck while women bulk up at the waist. You will find that a lack of exercise can also be a problem, as the muscles around your throat will get slack and weak thanks to their inactivity.
This means that your airways are much less protected, which is what is allowing the fat to press in on the airways in the first place. If you are a bit overweight and you don’t do too much exercise, it may be a good time to do something about it.
It may just be the magical pill that will help to cure your snoring, and it will definitely make your life a lot better.
Sleeping Pills or Booze – Did you know that taking sleeping pills and drinking can cause you to snore? This is because doing either of these things will cause the muscles in your neck and chest to relax, which is the reason you’re taking the pills or drinking in the first place.
You will find that these things will help you to sleep, but they will also shut down most of the rest of your body as well.
Alcohol is also a cause of irritation or congestion in your airways, which can lead to more resistance in your airways as you breathe.
You will find that it can also lead to obstructive sleep apnea that can cause your breathing to stop when you sleep, so it’s best to avoid taking sleeping pills or drinking alcohol if you have a snoring problem.
Smoking –Everyone knows that smoking is terrible for your lungs and throat, but it can also be one of the causes of snoring. What happens is that the smoking causes your nasal passages to be congested, which means that it’s more difficult for your lungs to pump the air out of your nose.
When your lungs have to push harder, the force of the breath being expelled can lead to the snoring. Even if you just smoke occasionally, you may find that it will be a cause of your snoring.
Make sure that you don’t smoke within four hours before you sleep at night, which will help to allow your body to recover enough to avoid snoring at night.
Wrong Position – If you’ve ever looked at a snoring person, chances are they’re sleeping on their back.
The reason that you snore when you’re on your back is that your tongue is hanging towards the back of your mouth, which means that more pressure is being placed on your airways – causing them to constrict.
When this happens, the air being forced through your nose over your lungs will cause your tongue and soft palate to rattle, which is the snoring sound that drives you crazy.
Most of the people that sleep on their back tend to snore.
Allergies – If you have an allergic reaction to anything, chances are that it will cause some swelling in your throat. Serious swelling is anaphylaxis and can be deadly, but even mild swelling can lead to snoring.
The swelling causes congestion in your throat, which means that your lungs have to work harder to get the oxygen out of your system. This can lead to snoring, so dealing with your allergies is important.
Stuffed Nose – For those that are dealing with the flu nasal congestion or a stuffed nose is a major cause of snoring.
The truth is that pretty much anyone that breathes through their nose will find that they snore when their nose is clogged up, as the congestion of their nose causes either a whistling sound or the annoying sawing that is so hard to sleep through.
Many people open their mouths to breathe at night if they have a stuffed nose, and this can lead to snoring as well. Dealing with your stuffed nose is the key to avoiding snoring at night.
Breathing Through Your Mouth – There are a number of people around the world that breathe through their mouths, and it’s not uncommon for people to be mouth breathers.
You will find that these people are much more likely to snore, though the snores will be much different than those breathing through their mouths.
Those that breathe through their mouths are pulling the air forcefully over the soft tissue in the back of the throat, and this is the cause of snoring.
Small Nostrils – It is not as common, but there are people that have smaller nostrils than normal.
The size of your nostrils will determine how easy it is for you to get enough air through your nose, and those with small nostrils either end up snoring at night due to the size of their nostrils or breathing through their mouths to compensate – which also leads to snoring.
Some people also suffer from nasal collapse, which can be caused by facial reconstructive or plastic surgery, as well as injuries to the nose.
If you’re broken your nose, there is a chance that the canal hasn’t returned to its full size, so you will end up snoring.
These are some of the reasons that you may be snoring, and it’s a good idea to get checked out at a sleep clinic if you find yourself sawing logs at night.