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Have you recently started snoring? Or have you been snoring for as long as you can remember? Whether your snoring issue is new or old, everyone snores for different reasons, but not everyone is aware of why they snore. If you’re unsure as to why you’ve started snoring, or are curious about the different reasons as to why we snore, here’s a go to guide on the different types, common outcomes, and solutions for snoring.
Ageing
As we age, our sleeping habits and sleep in general changes, often leading to more difficulty sleeping and more snoring. This is largely due to weakening airway muscles. Unfortunately, humans lose elasticity and control as we grow older. That means our bodies, including internal muscles loosen and become less toned. This leads to a higher possibility of snoring more with age. Other indirect reasons why aging may cause snoring involve easier excessive weight gain, consuming medication with sedative properties, and reduced immunity.
Fixes to age-related snoring
Since age isn’t something we can reverse or stop, finding ways to reduce snoring is typically the goal for this type of snoring problem. Here are some ways to combat age stricken snoring:
Facial shape and hereditary conditions
Physical traits can often be the cause for snoring as well. Having a narrow throat, a cleft palate, enlarged adenoids, and other physical features that cause snoring are often hereditary. Another problem some of us are simply born with are allergies. This can cause blockages in our breathing system which can lead to snoring.
Fixes to physical and hereditary conditions
We can’t often (or inexpensively) control what we are born with. However, there are rather worth it and inexpensive anti-snoring solutions to significantly reduce, and sometimes eliminate snoring. They include:
Sleep position
A common cause of snoring is the way we sleep. Most notably, those who sleep on their back are more prone to snoring. This is because our breathing is forced to fight gravity in a horizontal position. Whereas, being upright and vertical means breathing is smooth and unrestricted.
For back sleepers, the gravitational restriction forces the tongue, jaw, and soft palate to drop backwards towards the throat. This in turn creates an even narrower airway passage that can lead to breathing difficulties, and of course, snoring.
Fixes to snoring caused by sleep position
Lifestyle choices
More specifically, alcohol intake, smoking, and medications are likely causes of snoring. These three are known to relax and inhibit our biology and brain functions. Unfortunately, this means that excessive intake of the above relaxes the muscles in and around the throat which interferes with breathing.
Fixes for lifestyle induced snoring
Weight gain
Weight gain is one of the most common, if not the most common cause of snoring. With extra fatty tissue and weaker muscle tone comes the higher chances of those late night sounds. Even if weight gain is not a worry for you, note that some people have thicker necks which causes direct compression of the airways. Furthermore, central weight causes indirect suppression of our upper airway as belly and chest fat pushes the diaphragm and ribcage up. Generally, this shrinks the volume of our lungs and reduces even more airflow.
Fixes for snoring caused by weight gain
These are some of the more common causes of snoring. Yes, some seem impossible (or very difficult) to control but there are always ways to work around all different causes of snoring. It’s important to note that creating change, whether it’s lifestyle based or simply opting for an anti-snoring mouthpieces is the goal in reducing those unwanted sounds. Not only will you and your partner be happier, but you’ll be a healthier and better version of yourself!
References
An estimated 80% of people prescribed CPAP therapy don’t adhere to it and look for other forms of relief. Lucky for them, mouthpieces can be an effective sleep apnea solution.
