What Causes
Snoring?
Just as each and every individual is unique, knowing what causes snoring is different for each
and every one of us. There are a number of factors which are within our control and some that are beyond our
control that can determine how good of a sleep you manage to get.
It is a fact that what causes snoring for most people is that they have too much throat or nasal
tissue present or have throat or nasal tissue that is ‘floppy.’ The regular inhaling and exhaling patterns that
take place when you are sleeping cause this excess to vibrate, therefore affecting the nature of your breathing and
causing the individual to snore.
The position of a person’s tongue when they are sleeping can also contribute to the problem by interrupting smooth
and regular breathing whilst asleep. These issues cause the person’s airways to narrow and what is produced is the
grunting snoring noise that disturbs many night’s of good sleep. For some people what causes
snoring is hereditary and therefore learning to control your snoring is key. Because this is how your body
is naturally reacting whilst asleep this may be a problem that has bugged your parents and their parents, who may
not have had as much information available to them on what causes snoring.
Has snoring become a recent problem in later years? Then your age may also be a factor in why you have suddenly
started snoring. As we grow older the muscle tone in our throat decreases and they results in our air passages
becoming narrower and therefore snoring may become a problem, where is it has never been before.
Of course, while these are largely genetic and there is not much we can really do to change that, there can be a
number of other factors at play, that are contributing to your snoring and coming between you and the perfect
night’s rest.
If you are a smoker or have prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke, this may be what is causing or contributing to
your snoring. Smoking tends to relax nasal muscles and cause congestion in the area, which you may be totally
unaware of until you try to lie down for a snore-free snooze.
Similarly, being over-weight may also be contributing to the problem of snoring. A poor diet and lack of exercise
over a prolonged time can lead to poor muscle tone in the airways and a snoring problem that is keeping you and
your partner awake at night.
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